Effects of nitrous oxide on psychological performance. A dose-response study using inhalation of concentrations up to 15%.
Psychopharmacology February 1, 1995 P J Armstrong, C Morton, W Sinclair et al.
Inhaling nitrous oxide at concentrations as low as 3% impairs long-term memory recall, while short-term recall is affected only at 15%. Attention and psychomotor performance are impaired at 15%, and subjective sedation occurs at that dose. These findings suggest that memory consolidation is especially vulnerable to disruption from central nervous system depression.