Functional comparison between critical flicker fusion frequency and simple cognitive tests in subjects breathing air or oxygen in normobaria

摘要

Measurement of inert gas narcosis and its degree is difficult during operational circumstances, hence the need for a reliable, reproducible and adaptable tool. Although being an indirect measure of brain function, if reliable, critical flicker fusion frequency (CFFF) could address this need and be used for longitudinal studies on cortical arousal in humans. Methods: To test the reliability of this method, the comparison between CFFF and three tests (Math-Processing Task, Trail-Making Task, and Perceptual Vigilance Task) from the Psychology Experiment Building Language battery (PEBL) were used to evaluate the effect of 10 minutes of 100% normobaric oxygen breathing on mental performance in 20 healthy male volunteers.