Nitrous oxide is a widely used gas in medicine, in standard concentrations above 50%. Its favourable physical properties and easy detectability by anaesthetic gas analysors predispose nitrous oxide to become a possible tracing gas for leak detection in experiments in which modified breathing system are in use. In these breathing experiments, the inspired concentrations of nitrous oxide would be well below the anaesthetic/analgesic concentrations. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of these low concentrations of nitrous oxide (5, 7, 10, 12, 15, 20 %), compared to placebo (air, 0% nitrous oxide). The cognitive functions are tested using Digit Symbol Substitution Test, Reaction Time and Visual Analogue Scale.
The aim of the study is to test the effects of low concentrations of nitrous oxide on cognitive functions and reaction time in human.