INTRODUCTION: Exposure to altitude reduces oxygen supply to the central nervous system and may cause a variety of neuropsychological impairments. We investigated the relationship between certain cognitive functions and cardiovascular and respiratory variables during acute hypobaric hypoxia. METHODS: There were three groups of seven men who were each exposed to a 2-h altitude profile (AP) involving 30 min at each of the following simulated altitudes (m): AP1, 450-1500-3000; AP2, 450-1500-4500; Control 450-650-650. The neuropsychological tests included word fluency and three word-association tasks tapping processes of cognitive flexibility and emotion regulation. A lateralized tachistoscopic lexical decision task with high and low emotional target words was also administered to assess possible shifts in hemispheric superiorities for positive and negative affect. RESULTS: No significant differences in word fluency, word association, or lateralized lexical decision performances were found, despite a significant oxygen desaturation and a drop in diastolic BP at 4500 m, indicating the beginning of central hypoxia in terms of a functional impairment of the vasomotor center. CONCLUSION: During acute exposure to hypobaric hypoxia, selected cognitive and affective functions mediated by the frontal lobe were preserved. Functional hemispheric asymmetries for emotional processes remained unchanged.
INTRODUCTION: Exposure to altitude reduces oxygen supply to the central nervous system and may cause a variety of neuropsychological impairments. We investigated the relationship between certain cognitive functions and cardiovascular and respiratory variables during acute hypobaric hypoxia. METHODS: There were three groups of seven men who were each exposed to a 2-h altitude profile (AP) involving 30 min at each of the following simulated altitudes (m): AP1, 450-1500-3000; AP2, 450-1500-4500; Control 450-650-650. The neuropsychological tests included word fluency and three word-association tasks tapping processes of cognitive flexibility and emotion regulation. A lateralized tachistoscopic lexical decision task with high and low emotional target words was also administered to assess possible shifts in hemispheric superiorities for positive and negative affect. RESULTS: No significant differences in word fluency, word association, or lateralized lexical decision performances were found, despite a significant oxygen desaturation and a drop in diastolic BP at 4500 m, indicating the beginning of central hypoxia in terms of a functional impairment of the vasomotor center. CONCLUSION: During acute exposure to hypobaric hypoxia, selected cognitive and affective functions mediated by the frontal lobe were preserved. Functional hemispheric asymmetries for emotional processes remained unchanged.
Authors: Mathew I B Debenham; Janelle N Smuin; Tess D A Grantham; Philip N Ainslie; Brian H Dalton Journal: Eur J Appl Physiol Date: 2021-01-23 Impact factor: 3.078
Authors: A Legros; H R Marshall; A Beuter; J Gow; B Cheung; A W Thomas; F S Prato; R Z Stodilka Journal: Eur J Appl Physiol Date: 2010-04-23 Impact factor: 3.078
Authors: Konstadina Griva; Jan Stygall; Mark H Wilson; Daniel Martin; Denny Levett; Kay Mitchell; Monty Mythen; Hugh E Montgomery; Mike P Grocott; Golnar Aref-Adib; Mark Edsell; Tracie Plant; Chris Imray; Debbie Cooke; Jane Harrington; Maryam Khosravi; Stanton P Newman Journal: PLoS One Date: 2017-03-27 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Andrew W Subudhi; Nicolas Bourdillon; Jenna Bucher; Christopher Davis; Jonathan E Elliott; Morgan Eutermoster; Oghenero Evero; Jui-Lin Fan; Sonja Jameson-Van Houten; Colleen G Julian; Jonathan Kark; Sherri Kark; Bengt Kayser; Julia P Kern; See Eun Kim; Corinna Lathan; Steven S Laurie; Andrew T Lovering; Ryan Paterson; David M Polaner; Benjamin J Ryan; James L Spira; Jack W Tsao; Nadine B Wachsmuth; Robert C Roach Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-03-21 Impact factor: 3.240