Hydrostatic pressure effects on the central nervous system: perspectives and outlook

Abstract

The high pressure neurological syndrome (h.p.n.s.) represents a complex of behavioural changes observed in all vertebrates when exposed to progressively increasing pressures. The general characteristics of the syndrome will be described and discussed in the light of alternative hypotheses about its aetiology and biophysical characteristics. Recent investigations in this area have dealt with the problem of the discretion of the several stages of the h.p.n.s. in their dependence on compression parameters; with the problem of individual variability in sensitivity to h.p.n.s. development, the genetic basis thereof, and its implications from the point of view of personnel selection; and with exploration of the characteristics and nature of the antagonism between high pressure and general anaesthetics in the production of h.p.n.s. symptoms. A final part of the discussion will deal with the current status of investigations into the problem of hazard assessment, and with the several possible approaches to controlling the h.p.n.s. associated hazards encountered in deep diving operations.