Scubastudy.org has been set up by a DDRC PhD student in association with the department of Psychology at the University of Plymouth. It has details about ongoing studies concerned with diver performance under hyperbaric pressure and diver questionnaires looking at differences between populations of recreational scuba divers. The project is examining the cognitive and neuropsychological impacts of recreational diving both in the immediate term, ie cognitive function (memory, manual dexterity, spatial awareness etc) whilst under different partial pressures of nitrogen during a dive. Also in the long term, ie the impact of prolonged diving on cognitive and neuropsychological integrity.
To date, the research in these two areas has been limited, with very little work carried out using recreational divers. Nevertheless, both areas are crucially important for the health and safety of divers. The project brings together cognitive neuroscientists from the University of Plymouth with research staff from the DDRC. Research is being conducted as a PhD programme registered at the University. For further information please visit the ScubaStudy website to take part in the online diver questionnaire.
