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If you want to have a discussion of scientific methodology take it to marine science or to PM's- this is basic scuba and it's not appropriate. (And it's annoying.)
DaleC
Contributor
If you are looking for diver related studies of EAN use to reduce fatigue you will be short changed but that doesn't mean the phenomenon has not been studied in other realms. Here's a study to ponder:
ScienceDirect - Applied Ergonomics : Effects of oxygen concentrations on driver fatigue during simulated driving
From the abstract:
Driver fatigue has been the cause of traffic accidents. Despite this, the amount of time that drivers spend within cars has been increasing due to complex city life, traffic congestion, and particular occupational requirements. Consequently, fatigue and stress cannot be avoided. In present study, in order to find out the possibility for reducing fatigue while driving due to the supply of oxygen, driver fatigue resulting from the passage of time when different oxygen concentrations are supplied has been examined through subjective evaluations and reaction times using driving simulator for 10 male subjects. The results revealed the subjective fatigue feeling was highest in the low rate (18%) oxygen condition, while in the high rate (30%), it decreased to a certain extent. The feeling of sleepiness also showed the tendency to decrease somewhat in the case of the driving time having passed over 1 h in the high-rate conditions. Also, the reaction time for braking after being instructed to suddenly stop following more than 2 h of driving was reduced in the high-rate oxygen conditions compared to the low-rate oxygen condition. From the above results, it was shown that while driving a car, if the oxygen rate is lowered, fatigue is felt severely, and that in the case of supplying a high-rate of oxygen, the feeling of fatigue is lowered to some extent and the reaction time is shortened. It was suggested that the driver's fatigue can be reduced according to the supply of oxygen.
ScienceDirect - Applied Ergonomics : Effects of oxygen concentrations on driver fatigue during simulated driving
From the abstract:
Driver fatigue has been the cause of traffic accidents. Despite this, the amount of time that drivers spend within cars has been increasing due to complex city life, traffic congestion, and particular occupational requirements. Consequently, fatigue and stress cannot be avoided. In present study, in order to find out the possibility for reducing fatigue while driving due to the supply of oxygen, driver fatigue resulting from the passage of time when different oxygen concentrations are supplied has been examined through subjective evaluations and reaction times using driving simulator for 10 male subjects. The results revealed the subjective fatigue feeling was highest in the low rate (18%) oxygen condition, while in the high rate (30%), it decreased to a certain extent. The feeling of sleepiness also showed the tendency to decrease somewhat in the case of the driving time having passed over 1 h in the high-rate conditions. Also, the reaction time for braking after being instructed to suddenly stop following more than 2 h of driving was reduced in the high-rate oxygen conditions compared to the low-rate oxygen condition. From the above results, it was shown that while driving a car, if the oxygen rate is lowered, fatigue is felt severely, and that in the case of supplying a high-rate of oxygen, the feeling of fatigue is lowered to some extent and the reaction time is shortened. It was suggested that the driver's fatigue can be reduced according to the supply of oxygen.
DaleC
Contributor
Here's another one: SpringerLink - Journal Article
From the Summary:
Summary We examined the effect of O2-enriched air upon performance capacity and some physiological and psychological variables. Eight firemen were studied during seven bouts of 2 min treadmill-running while breathing air with 21 or 40% oxygen. The duration of the resting periods between the working bouts was chosed by the subjects themselves, with the instructions to rest as short as possible. Total resting time decreased by 29% and total amount of air used by 6%, under the 40% oxygen condition. There were no differences in 1) minute ventilation during working periods (when the subjects breathed 40% oxygen respiratory rate decreased whereas tidalvolume increased), 2) heart rate reached during working periods, 3) subjective feelings of fatigue as indicated by the subjects at the end of every working period.
Advantages of the use of O2-enriched air by firemen are discussed and it is concluded that breathing air with 40% oxygen does not mean an extra physiological or psychological load for the organism. Finally, possible factors that made a subject decide to start again are discussed and the importance of the respiratory rate in this decision is indicated.
While it indicates no difference in fatigue "feelings" this may have been mitigated by the fact that the subjects were allowed to choose their own rest period durations. Fatigue may have been indicated if they all had to adhere to the same rest cycle.
I am very interested in the importance of the respiratory rate in the decision making process to resume exercise as I have a pet theory that respiratory rates may trigger the perception of fatigue but I am too cheap to pay for the full study.
From the Summary:
Summary We examined the effect of O2-enriched air upon performance capacity and some physiological and psychological variables. Eight firemen were studied during seven bouts of 2 min treadmill-running while breathing air with 21 or 40% oxygen. The duration of the resting periods between the working bouts was chosed by the subjects themselves, with the instructions to rest as short as possible. Total resting time decreased by 29% and total amount of air used by 6%, under the 40% oxygen condition. There were no differences in 1) minute ventilation during working periods (when the subjects breathed 40% oxygen respiratory rate decreased whereas tidalvolume increased), 2) heart rate reached during working periods, 3) subjective feelings of fatigue as indicated by the subjects at the end of every working period.
Advantages of the use of O2-enriched air by firemen are discussed and it is concluded that breathing air with 40% oxygen does not mean an extra physiological or psychological load for the organism. Finally, possible factors that made a subject decide to start again are discussed and the importance of the respiratory rate in this decision is indicated.
While it indicates no difference in fatigue "feelings" this may have been mitigated by the fact that the subjects were allowed to choose their own rest period durations. Fatigue may have been indicated if they all had to adhere to the same rest cycle.
I am very interested in the importance of the respiratory rate in the decision making process to resume exercise as I have a pet theory that respiratory rates may trigger the perception of fatigue but I am too cheap to pay for the full study.
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