The purpose of this study was to test an ascent program for ideal psychological adaptation to high altitudes. A psychological approach was used to test a model describing a gradual step-by-step ascent. Seven subjects spent nine days between 3,500 m and 4,400 m altitude, followed by eight days climbing 500 m each day from 3,500 m to 5,400 m. They performed a cognitive-motor task three times, once under normoxia, once under acute hypoxia, and once under chronic hypoxic conditions. Durations for these subjects were compared with those obtained by a control group tested under normoxia. Subjects' emotional state was assessed by analyzing their remarks during an interview conducted at 5,400 m and by calculating from the answers given to the three questions, a mood index for each subject. Analysis showed that the performances of both groups improved on the second and third administrations of the test. There was, however, no interaction between the group and the time of administration. Mood indexes indicated that the majority of the subjects had no trouble in adapting to the situation and few cognitive or emotional disturbances were observed. These findings may be attributed to the ascent being well designed and planned thereby preventing various possible forms of mountain sickness and other pathologies from developing in the subjects.

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Following studies of respiratory sensory functions during high-altitude adaptation, pain perception investigations were carried out on European lowlanders during an expedition on the Bhrikuti peak, Himalaya (first ascent). Perception thresholds and discrimination performances of electrical stimuli applied to the skin were determined with a constant stimulus method. Additionally, Clark's Situational Pain Questionnaire was used to measure discriminability and response bias of the subjects' reports of pain. The tests were performed in the field under normoxic conditions, before and after ascent, and under hypoxic conditions at altitudes of 3500 and 5600 m. The tests were also performed in a control group under normoxic conditions and similar ambient temperatures. Under normoxic conditions, the expedition group differed from the control group and demonstrated a more stoic attitude and a lower pain threshold. At high altitudes, pain thresholds decreased through improved sensory discrimination performances. Hypoxia is supposed to be the main cause of this sensory adaptive reaction to altitude as psychological attitude remained unchanged and a decrease in ambient temperature was without effect on pain perception in the control group. Increased discrimination in pain perception may be a component of a general improvement in sensory processing during the early stages of altitude acclimatization.

A comparative textual analysis was carried out on two essays "Thanatol" and "Double Talk," by F. Perrier, which were originally lectures given three years apart by the author, a psychoanalyst. This study involved the use of the ALCESTE software program, a computer-assisted method of discourse analysis. It consists of modelling the distribution of the main words occurring in speeches or texts with a view toward identifying the repetitive language patterns most frequently used by a speaker or writer. This method is described in the first part of the paper. Various types of discourse emerged from analysis along with specific topics. There were three types in the case of Thanatol and four in that of Double Talk. Upon comparing the separate results obtained on each corpus, a pool of significant words observed in the corpus Thanatol was also present in Double Talk. These words were organised into groups called "language satellites" which were dispatched in the various types of discourse. Considering the underlying language structure (the enunciation), they formed another discourse running between the lines of two lectures. This supplementary discourse was recurrent and could be said to label the author and his thoughts. The ALCESTE method brings to light in the textual production of an author a recurrent pattern of discourse which might hold some clues for the analysis of texts and speech and even about the author as evident in his own ideas and thoughts.