This study investigated the effects of nitrogen narcosis on information processing in 35 recreational scuba divers. The subjects' levels of impairment were assessed with a table-reading test designed to approximate the processing stages involved in reading the tables used by scuba divers to determine the maximum time safely allowed at a given depth. The experimental subjects were tested in a hyperbaric chamber at two simulated depths. The first was at 60 feet (2.8 atmospheres ambient pressure (ATA)) and the second at ninety feet (3.7 ATA). The performances of the experimental subjects on the table-reading test were compared to those of the control group pressurized to 1.3 ATA and 1.45 ATA, the equivalent of 10 feet and 15 feet of depth, respectively. Results were analyzed by multivariate analysis of variance, using a repeated measures design. The experimental group was found to differ significantly from the control group {dollar}(p < .001).{dollar} Post hoc analysis for each depth was performed using an analysis of variance on the difference scores, using the surface score as a baseline, and a significant level of impairment was found at both 60 fsw {dollar}(p <. 05){dollar} and 90 fsw {dollar}(p < .05).{dollar} The author concluded that there is a significant level of impairment of information processing due to nitrogen narcosis at both 60 fsw and 90 fsw.
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