 The cause of narcosis is related to the increased solubility of gases in body tissues , as a result of the elevated pressures at depth ( Henry 's law ) . Modern theories have suggested that inert gases dissolving in the lipid bilayer of cell membranes cause narcosis . More recently , researchers have been looking at neurotransmitter receptor protein mechanisms as a possible cause of narcosis . The breathing gas mix entering the diver 's lungs will have the same pressure as the surrounding water , known as the ambient pressure . After any change of depth , the pressure of gases in the blood passing through the brain catches up with ambient pressure within a minute or two , which results in a delayed narcotic effect after descending to a new depth . Rapid compression potentiates narcosis owing to carbon dioxide retention . 
