07 PM | 29 May

Subjects – wanted

The Effects of Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas) on electrical brain activity.

The Centre for Intelligent Systems and Complex Process (CISCP) along with the Brain Sciences Institute (BSI) are seeking healthy male participants for research focusing on the effects of Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas) on electrical brain activity.

Participants who pass inclusion criteria will be asked to participate in a single testing session at the Brain Sciences Institute, where they will be administered variable concentrations of nitrous oxide/oxygen gas mixture. During the inhalation of the gas mixture participants will have their electrical brain activity recorded using electroencephalography (EEG), a non-invasive method which records electrical brain activity from the scalp via a standard cap.

Inclusion Criteria: Between the ages of 20-40 years Male Non-smoker Satisfactory general health No history of psychiatric/mental illness (including epilepsy) No history of medical sleep apnoea (snoring) No history of adverse reaction to Nitrous Oxide No history of regular analgesia or sedation treatments

Nitrous Oxide (N2O): N2O is a colourless gas with a sweet odour and taste. Participants will be administered varying concentrations of N2O, higher concentrations of which may induce nausea or emesis (vomiting) in some cases. N2O has been used as an analgesic and mild anaesthetic in medicine for over 150 years. In more recent times N2O is used as an analgesic in dentistry and  paediatrics.

The popularity of N2O in both sedation and analgesia is testament to the efficacy and safety of this gas.

Please contact Brett Foster for more information: Ph: 9214-5543(w); 0407413583(m) email: bfoster@swin.edu.au

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