Physiological Changes and Psychomotor Performance During Acute Hypoxia

¹ From the R.A.F. Institute of Aviation Medicine, Farnborough, Hants, England

Ten normal subjects were exposed to a simulated altitude of 20,000 feet for 10 minutes. The arterial oxygen saturation fell progressively to 70–75%, the pulse rate rose by 40%, and the respiratory minute volume was increased by 40–50% (more while operating the pursuit meter). Two subjects developed periodic breathing. Pneumotachographic and oximetric features of this change are described. All subjects developed some significant change of psychomotor performance, the most consistent being an increase of error score. Some subjects showed changes of response time that apparently indicated a progressive depression of the higher centers, while in others depression was preceded by a phase of stimulation. The pursuit meter tracing gave other evidence of an unfavorable response to hypoxia, particularly the onset of emotional disturbances associated with frustrating tasks.

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				C. Szubski, M. Burtscher, and W. N. Loscher The effects of short-term hypoxia on motor cortex excitability and neuromuscular activation J Appl Physiol, December 1, 2006; 101(6): 1673 - 1677. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]