Experimental nitrous oxide exposure as a model system for evaluating neurobehavioral tests.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Baker, Edward L. Jr. ; Letz R ; Mahoney FC ; Moore PA
• Description:
  The effect of nitrous-oxide (10024972) on neurobehavioral test performance was evaluated. Fifteen white males, 24 to 34 years old, were exposed to 0, 20, or 40 percent nitrous-oxide. They were then administered a computerized battery of neurobehavioral tests that evaluated continuous performance, hand/eye coordination, serial digit learning, symbol digit substitution, pattern recognition, pattern memory, choice reaction time, finger tapping, and mood. Performance was scored using 0 percent nitrous-oxide exposure as the baseline. The 20 percent exposure significantly impaired performance on the symbol digit and finger tapping tests. A marginally significant decrement in continuous performance test response latency was also seen. There was a significant effect on the confusion items in the Mood scales test. Nitrous-oxide at 40 percent impaired performance on all tests. The impairments were significant for all tests except the symbol digit learning task. Confusion on the Mood scales was significantly at this dose as well. The authors conclude that their findings agree with those of previous studies. Nitrous-oxide appears to be a useful standard for comparing the sensitivity of neurobehavioral tests. The computerized neurobehavioral test battery, particularly the Switching Attention task, is a valid technique for documenting functional status of the central nervous system. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Behavior Laboratories Mental Health Nitrogen Oxides Nitrous Oxide Occupational Health Respiratory System Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Computerized Neurobehavioral Testing Behavioral-testing Dose-response Humans Inhalation-studies Laboratory-testing Mental-processes NIOSH-Author Nitrogen-oxides Nitrous Oxide Task-performance Validation

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• ISSN:
  0300-483X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Georgia ; Massachusetts ; New York ; OSHA Region 1 ; OSHA Region 2 ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 4 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  OD - Office of the Director
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  449-457
• Volume:
  49
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00181407
• Citation:
  Toxicology 1988 May; 49(2-3):449-457
• Contact Point Address:
  Richard Letz, Division of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Box 1057, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, 10 East 103rd Street, New York, NY 10039, USA
• CAS Registry Number:
  Nitrous oxide (CAS RN 10024-97-2)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1988
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Toxicology
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:ac96988e4bf20947a741be5e11028f17bcf8214b6220ac7e28ac8dcb0f051bbc05251dc0ce9ada355603aabc9f1479cf4984c1c689b09d9f999f1d980fcc3315
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/185589/cdc_185589_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 511.67 KB ]