BIOMAT Database Logo BIOMAT Database Logo

Six percent oxygen enrichment of room air at simulated 5,000 m altitude improves neuropsychological function. 2000

A B Gerard, and M K McElroy, and M J Taylor, and I Grant, and F L Powell, and S Holverda, and N Sentse, and J B West
Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0623, USA.

Cognitive and motor function are known to deteriorate with the hypoxia accompanying high altitude, posing a substantial challenge to the efficient operation of high altitude industrial and scientific projects. To evaluate the effectiveness of enriching room air oxygen by 6% at 5,000 m altitude in ameliorating such deficits, 24 unacclimatized subjects (16 males, 8 females; mean age 37.8, range 20 to 47) underwent neuropsychological testing in a specially designed facility at 3,800 m that can simulate an ambient 5,000 m atmosphere and 6% enrichment at 5,000 m. Each subject was tested in both conditions in a randomized, double-blinded fashion. The 2-h test battery of 16 tasks assessed various aspects of motor and cognitive performance. Compared with simulated breathing air at 5,000 m, oxygen enrichment resulted in higher arterial oxygen saturations (93.0 vs. 81.6%), quicker reaction times, improved hand-eye coordination, and more positive sense of well-being (on 6 of 16 scales), each significant at the p < 0.05 level. Other aspects of neuropsychological function were not significantly improved by 6% additional oxygen.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D010100 Oxygen An element with atomic symbol O, atomic number 8, and atomic weight [15.99903; 15.99977]. It is the most abundant element on earth and essential for respiration. Dioxygen,Oxygen-16,Oxygen 16
D011597 Psychomotor Performance The coordination of a sensory or ideational (cognitive) process and a motor activity. Perceptual Motor Performance,Sensory Motor Performance,Visual Motor Coordination,Coordination, Visual Motor,Coordinations, Visual Motor,Motor Coordination, Visual,Motor Coordinations, Visual,Motor Performance, Perceptual,Motor Performance, Sensory,Motor Performances, Perceptual,Motor Performances, Sensory,Perceptual Motor Performances,Performance, Perceptual Motor,Performance, Psychomotor,Performance, Sensory Motor,Performances, Perceptual Motor,Performances, Psychomotor,Performances, Sensory Motor,Psychomotor Performances,Sensory Motor Performances,Visual Motor Coordinations
D011930 Reaction Time The time from the onset of a stimulus until a response is observed. Response Latency,Response Speed,Response Time,Latency, Response,Reaction Times,Response Latencies,Response Times,Speed, Response,Speeds, Response
D003072 Cognition Disorders Disorders characterized by disturbances in mental processes related to learning, thinking, reasoning, and judgment. Overinclusion,Disorder, Cognition,Disorders, Cognition
D004311 Double-Blind Method A method of studying a drug or procedure in which both the subjects and investigators are kept unaware of who is actually getting which specific treatment. Double-Masked Study,Double-Blind Study,Double-Masked Method,Double Blind Method,Double Blind Study,Double Masked Method,Double Masked Study,Double-Blind Methods,Double-Blind Studies,Double-Masked Methods,Double-Masked Studies,Method, Double-Blind,Method, Double-Masked,Methods, Double-Blind,Methods, Double-Masked,Studies, Double-Blind,Studies, Double-Masked,Study, Double-Blind,Study, Double-Masked
D004780 Environment, Controlled A state in which the environs of hospitals, laboratories, domestic and animal housing, work places, spacecraft, and other surroundings are under technological control with regard to air conditioning, heating, lighting, humidity, ventilation, and other ambient features. The concept includes control of atmospheric composition. (From Jane's Aerospace Dictionary, 3d ed) Clean Rooms,Laminar Air-Flow Areas,Controlled Environment,Area, Laminar Air-Flow,Clean Room,Controlled Environments,Environments, Controlled,Laminar Air Flow Areas,Laminar Air-Flow Area,Room, Clean
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

Related Publications

A B Gerard, and M K McElroy, and M J Taylor, and I Grant, and F L Powell, and S Holverda, and N Sentse, and J B West
Nocturnal oxygen enrichment of room air at 3800 meter altitude improves sleep architecture.
January 2001, High altitude medicine & biology,
A B Gerard, and M K McElroy, and M J Taylor, and I Grant, and F L Powell, and S Holverda, and N Sentse, and J B West
Safe upper limits for oxygen enrichment of room air at high altitude.
January 2001, High altitude medicine & biology,
A B Gerard, and M K McElroy, and M J Taylor, and I Grant, and F L Powell, and S Holverda, and N Sentse, and J B West
[Effects of oxygen enrichment of room air on sleep patterns at high altitude].
May 2004, Zhonghua nei ke za zhi,
A B Gerard, and M K McElroy, and M J Taylor, and I Grant, and F L Powell, and S Holverda, and N Sentse, and J B West
Room oxygen enrichment improves sleep and subsequent day-time performance at high altitude.
September 1998, Respiration physiology,
A B Gerard, and M K McElroy, and M J Taylor, and I Grant, and F L Powell, and S Holverda, and N Sentse, and J B West
Oxygen enrichment of room air to improve well-being and productivity at high altitude.
January 1999, International journal of occupational and environmental health,
A B Gerard, and M K McElroy, and M J Taylor, and I Grant, and F L Powell, and S Holverda, and N Sentse, and J B West
Commuting to high altitude: value of oxygen enrichment of room air.
January 2002, High altitude medicine & biology,
A B Gerard, and M K McElroy, and M J Taylor, and I Grant, and F L Powell, and S Holverda, and N Sentse, and J B West
Oxygen enrichment of room air to relieve the hypoxia of high altitude.
February 1995, Respiration physiology,
A B Gerard, and M K McElroy, and M J Taylor, and I Grant, and F L Powell, and S Holverda, and N Sentse, and J B West
Neuropsychological function is associated with hypocapnia at simulated high altitude.
April 2023, Acta physiologica (Oxford, England),
A B Gerard, and M K McElroy, and M J Taylor, and I Grant, and F L Powell, and S Holverda, and N Sentse, and J B West
Postural instability at a simulated altitude of 5,000 m before and after an expedition to Mt. Cho-Oyu (8,201 m).
October 2010, European journal of applied physiology,
A B Gerard, and M K McElroy, and M J Taylor, and I Grant, and F L Powell, and S Holverda, and N Sentse, and J B West
Plasma cortisol in cattle: circadian rhythm and exposure to a simulated high altitude of 5,000 m.
June 1975, International journal of biometeorology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!