Executive functions of divers are selectively impaired at 20-meter water depth

Publication type:
Journal article
Metadata:
Autoren
Sammlungen
  • metadata
ISSN
1664-1078
Zeitschrift
Frontiers in psychology
Schlüsselwörter
  • 150 Psychologie
  • 150 Psychology
Sprache
eng
Paginierung
Art. 1000
Datum der Veröffentlichung
2017
Herausgeber
Frontiers Research Foundation
Herausgeber URL
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01000
Datum der Datenerfassung
2020
Datum, an dem der Datensatz öffentlich gemacht wurde
2020
Zugang
Public
Titel
Executive functions of divers are selectively impaired at 20-meter water depth
Ausgabe der Zeitschrift
8

Data source: METADATA.UB

Other metadata sources:
Autoren
Autoren-URL
https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=fis-test-1&SrcAuth=WosAPI&KeyUT=WOS:000403750900001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=WOS_CPL
DOI
10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01000
Externe Identifier
  • Clarivate Analytics Document Solution ID: EY1TY
  • PubMed Identifier: 28676772
ISSN
1664-1078
Zeitschrift
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
Schlüsselwörter
  • nitrogen narcosis
  • inert gas narcosis
  • water immersion
  • hyperbaric environment
  • SCUBA
  • cognition
  • human performance
Artikelnummer
ARTN 1000
Datum der Veröffentlichung
2017
Status
Published
Titel
Executive Functions of Divers Are Selectively Impaired at 20-Meter Water Depth
Sub types
  • Article
Ausgabe der Zeitschrift
8

Data source: Web of Science (Lite)

Autoren
DOI
10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01000
eISSN
1664-1078
Zeitschrift
Frontiers in Psychology
Online publication date
2017
Status
Published online
Herausgeber
Frontiers Media SA
Herausgeber URL
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01000
Datum der Datenerfassung
2019
Titel
Executive Functions of Divers Are Selectively Impaired at 20-Meter Water Depth
Ausgabe der Zeitschrift
8

Data source: Crossref

Abstract
Moving and acting underwater within recreational or occupational activities require intact executive functions, since they subserve higher cognitive functions such as successful self-regulation, coping with novel situations, and decision making; all of which could be influenced by nitrogen narcosis due to elevated partial pressure under water. However, specific executive functions that could provide a differentiated view on humans' cognitive performance ability have not yet been systematically analyzed in full-water immersion, which is a research gap addressed within this approach to contribute to a better understanding of nitrogen narcosis. In this study, 20 young, healthy, and certified recreational divers participated and performed three different executive-function tests: the Stroop test (Inhibition), the Number/Letter test (Task switching), the 2-back test (Updating/Working memory), and a simple reaction time test (Psychomotor performance). These tests were performed once on land, at 5-meter (m) water depth, and at 20-meter (m) water depth of an indoor diving facility in standardized test conditions (26°C in all water depths). A water-proofed and fully operational tablet computer was used to present visual stimuli and to register reaction times. Performance of the simple reaction time test was not different between underwater and land testing, suggesting that reaction times were not biased by the utilization of the tablet in water immersion. Executive functions were not affected by the shallow water immersion of 5-m water depth. However, performance scores in 20-m water depth revealed a decreased performance in the incongruent test condition (i.e., an index of inhibitory control ability) of the Stroop test, while all other tests were unaffected. Even though only one out of the three tested cognitive domains was affected, the impairment of inhibitory control ability even in relatively shallow water of 20-m is a critical component that should be considered for diver's safety, since inhibition is required in self-control requiring situations where impulsive and automatic behavior must be inhibited. Our interpretation of these selective impairments is based on a discussion suggesting that different neural networks within the central nervous system, which process specific executive functions, are affected differently by nitrogen narcosis.
Addresses
  • Department of Sport Psychology, Institute of Sport Science, Johannes Gutenberg University MainzMainz, Germany.
Autoren
DOI
10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01000
eISSN
1664-1078
Externe Identifier
  • PubMed Identifier: 28676772
  • PubMed Central ID: PMC5476772
Open access
true
ISSN
1664-1078
Zeitschrift
Frontiers in psychology
Sprache
eng
Medium
Electronic-eCollection
Online publication date
2017
Open access status
Open Access
Paginierung
1000
Datum der Veröffentlichung
2017
Status
Published
Publisher licence
CC BY
Datum der Datenerfassung
2017
Titel
Executive Functions of Divers Are Selectively Impaired at 20-Meter Water Depth.
Sub types
  • research-article
  • Journal Article
Ausgabe der Zeitschrift
8

Files

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01000/pdf https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5476772?pdf=render

Data source: Europe PubMed Central

Abstract
Moving and acting underwater within recreational or occupational activities require intact executive functions, since they subserve higher cognitive functions such as successful self-regulation, coping with novel situations, and decision making; all of which could be influenced by nitrogen narcosis due to elevated partial pressure under water. However, specific executive functions that could provide a differentiated view on humans' cognitive performance ability have not yet been systematically analyzed in full-water immersion, which is a research gap addressed within this approach to contribute to a better understanding of nitrogen narcosis. In this study, 20 young, healthy, and certified recreational divers participated and performed three different executive-function tests: the Stroop test (Inhibition), the Number/Letter test (Task switching), the 2-back test (Updating/Working memory), and a simple reaction time test (Psychomotor performance). These tests were performed once on land, at 5-meter (m) water depth, and at 20-meter (m) water depth of an indoor diving facility in standardized test conditions (26°C in all water depths). A water-proofed and fully operational tablet computer was used to present visual stimuli and to register reaction times. Performance of the simple reaction time test was not different between underwater and land testing, suggesting that reaction times were not biased by the utilization of the tablet in water immersion. Executive functions were not affected by the shallow water immersion of 5-m water depth. However, performance scores in 20-m water depth revealed a decreased performance in the incongruent test condition (i.e., an index of inhibitory control ability) of the Stroop test, while all other tests were unaffected. Even though only one out of the three tested cognitive domains was affected, the impairment of inhibitory control ability even in relatively shallow water of 20-m is a critical component that should be considered for diver's safety, since inhibition is required in self-control requiring situations where impulsive and automatic behavior must be inhibited. Our interpretation of these selective impairments is based on a discussion suggesting that different neural networks within the central nervous system, which process specific executive functions, are affected differently by nitrogen narcosis.
Date of acceptance
2017
Autoren
Autoren-URL
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28676772
DOI
10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01000
Externe Identifier
  • PubMed Central ID: PMC5476772
ISSN
1664-1078
Zeitschrift
Front Psychol
Schlüsselwörter
  • SCUBA
  • cognition
  • human performance
  • hyperbaric environment
  • inert gas narcosis
  • nitrogen narcosis
  • water immersion
Sprache
eng
Country
Switzerland
Paginierung
1000
Datum der Veröffentlichung
2017
Status
Published online
Titel
Executive Functions of Divers Are Selectively Impaired at 20-Meter Water Depth.
Sub types
  • Journal Article
Ausgabe der Zeitschrift
8

Data source: PubMed

Author's licence
CC-BY
Autoren
Hosting institution
Universitätsbibliothek Mainz
Sammlungen
  • DFG-OA-Publizieren (2012 - 2017)
Resource version
Published version
DOI
10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01000
Funding acknowledgements
  • DFG, Open Access-Publizieren Universität Mainz / Universitätsmedizin
File(s) embargoed
false
Open access
true
ISSN
1664-1078
Zeitschrift
Frontiers in psychology
Schlüsselwörter
  • 150 Psychologie
  • 150 Psychology
Sprache
eng
Open access status
Open Access
Paginierung
Art. 1000
Datum der Veröffentlichung
2017
Public URL
https://openscience.ub.uni-mainz.de/handle/20.500.12030/7882
Herausgeber
Frontiers Research Foundation
Herausgeber URL
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01000
Datum der Datenerfassung
2022
Datum, an dem der Datensatz öffentlich gemacht wurde
2022
Zugang
Public
Titel
Executive functions of divers are selectively impaired at 20-meter water depth
Ausgabe der Zeitschrift
8

Files

executive_functions_of_divers-20220914235500708.pdf

Data source: OPENSCIENCE.UB

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