Electroencephalographic and evoked potential monitoring in the hyperbaric environment

The purpose of this study was to investigate brain bioelectrical activity during hyperbaric oxygenation by continuous and simultaneous monitoring of electroenccphalographic and bimodal (auditory, somatosensory) evoked potentials. Multivariable recordings (electroencephalogram, brainstem auditory evoked potentials, early somatosensory evoked potentials, heart rate, heart rate variability, and transcutaneous partial pressure of oxygen) were measured with a new technique in 12 healthy male volunteers 26 to 52 years old (mean ± SD, 35.9 ± 9.5 years). Recordings were obtained while the subjects breathed (1) air at normal atmospheric pressure, (2) 100% oxygen at normal atmospheric pressure, (3) air at 2 atm (10 meters sea water [msw]), and (4) 100% oxygen at 2 atm (10 msw). Spontaneous brain electrical activity, somatosensory evoked potentials, and heart rate variability were not significantly affected during hyperbaric oxygénation, whereas the heart rate showed a significant decrease (pairedt test,P < 0.05). Alterations in brainstem auditory evoked potentials were seen under hyperbaric conditions and did not reach statistical significance (increase of the I-V interpeak latency by pairedt test;P < 0.2). All subjects showed insignificant increases in dominant alpha frequency and decreases in delta frequency under hyperbaric situations.