Effect of Acute Normobaric Hypoxia Exposure on Executive Functions among Young Physically Active Males

Chroboczek, Maciej; Kostrzewa, Maciej; Micielska, Katarzyna; Grzywacz, Tomasz; Laskowski, Radosław

doi:10.3390/jcm10081560

Cited by 14 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…Cerebral hypoxia, which can be caused by arterial oxygen deficiency and decreased cerebral blood flow, is thought to play a role in executive function impairment. This impairment is related to the level of SpO 2 , which drops proportionally due to the severity of the hypoxic conditions, as we have shown in a previous study [ 30 ]. In addition, since it is strongly connected with prefrontal oxygenation, it can have an impact [ 47 , 48 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 68%

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Acute Normobaric Hypoxia Lowers Executive Functions among Young Men despite Increase of BDNF Concentration

Chroboczek

Kujach

Łuszczyk

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Background: Decreased SpO2 during hypoxia can cause cognitive function impairment, and the effects of acute hypoxia on high-order brain functions such as executive processing remain unclear. This study’s goal was to examine the impact of an acute normobaric hypoxia breathing session on executive function and biological markers. Methods: Thirty-two healthy subjects participated in a blind study performing two sessions of single 30 min breathing bouts under two conditions (normoxia (NOR) and normobaric hypoxia (NH), FIO2 = 0.135). The Stroop test was applied to assess cognitive function. Results: No significant difference was observed in the Stroop interference in the “reading” part of the test in either condition; however, there was a significant increase in the “naming” part under NH conditions (p = 0.003), which corresponded to a significant decrease in SpO2 (p < 0.001). There was a significant increase (p < 0.013) in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) level after NH conditions compared to the baseline, which was not seen in NOR. In addition, a significant drop (p < 0.001) in cortisol levels in the NOR group and a slight elevation in the NH group was noticed. Conclusions: According to these findings, acute hypoxia delayed cognitive processing for motor execution and reduced the neural activity in motor executive and inhibitory processing. We also noted that this negative effect was associated with decreased SpO2 irrespective of a rise in BDNF.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 68%

“…The result usually contains several elements, including the time of each test, the difference between the time of the first and third test, and the number of errors in the third test [ 29 ]. The cognitive test was the same as in a previously published study [ 30 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acute Normobaric Hypoxia Lowers Executive Functions among Young Men despite Increase of BDNF Concentration

Chroboczek

Kujach

Łuszczyk

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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“…For the N-Back Number Task , impaired performance was found at the highest altitude tested, 5160 m (16,929 ft) [ 51 ], and in the only laboratory test at 4500 m (14,764 ft), by Williams et al (2019) [ 75 ]. The Stroop Test was used ten times [ 23 , 27 , 46 , 50 , 52 , 59 , 62 , 64 , 66 , 74 ]. In the field examinations, the results were very heterogeneous; twice there was no disturbance [ 23 , 46 ], twice there was a worsening [ 50 , 59 ], but on the follow-up examination there was no further deviation, and once there was an improvement [ 52 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cognition and Neuropsychological Changes at Altitude—A Systematic Review of Literature

Bliemsrieder

Weiss²,

Fischer³

et al. 2022

Brain Sciences

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High-altitude (HA) exposure affects cognitive functions, but studies have found inconsistent results. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effects of HA exposure on cognitive functions in healthy subjects. A structural overview of the applied neuropsychological tests was provided with a classification of superordinate cognitive domains. A literature search was performed using PubMed up to October 2021 according to PRISMA guidelines. Eligibility criteria included a healthy human cohort exposed to altitude in the field (at minimum 2440 m [8000 ft]) or in a hypoxic environment in a laboratory, and an assessment of cognitive domains. The literature search identified 52 studies (29 of these were field studies; altitude range: 2440 m–8848 m [8000–29,029 ft]). Researchers applied 112 different neuropsychological tests. Attentional capacity, concentration, and executive functions were the most frequently studied. In the laboratory, the ratio of altitude-induced impairments (64.7%) was twice as high compared to results showing no change or improved results (35.3%), but altitudes studied were similar in the chamber compared to field studies. In the field, the opposite results were found (66.4 % no change or improvements, 33.6% impairments). Since better acclimatization can be assumed in the field studies, the findings support the hypothesis that sufficient acclimatization has beneficial effects on cognitive functions at HA. However, it also becomes apparent that research in this area would benefit most if a consensus could be reached on a standardized framework of freely available neurocognitive tests.

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“…In contrast, interestingly and curiously, recent studies 28,29 argue that exposure to hypoxia can also have beneficial effects, acting on neuroprotection by stimulating the synthesis of neurotrophins, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), allowing a positive interpretation even in a health perspective. Furthermore, it is already argued that physical exercise alone adds to cognitive function 1 , however, the elegant systematic review and meta-analysis by Jung et al 3 add that exercise performed under hypoxia conditions has favorable effects on cognitive abilities.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of normobaric hypoxia exposure and exercise on attention

Andreossi

Ribeiro

Bertucci

et al. 2022

BJMB

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BACKGROUND: Environment with low oxygen availability can have detrimental effects on cognitive abilities. Nevertheless, exercise can have beneficial effects on cognitive abilities, and these effects may vary with the environment. Therefore, it is important for the performance of individuals to understand the uncertainties about the conditions that can compromise cognitive function. AIM: To identify which hypoxic conditions can cause attention disturbance. METHOD: A total of fourteen volunteers (24.4 ± 3.9 years old; 82.8 ± 14.9 kg weight; 178.6 ± 7.9 cm height) participated in this single-blind, randomized, with a within-subjects design study. Participants completed an adapted version of the Stroop Color-Word Test (SCWT) before and after exposure in normoxia and hypoxia (FIO 2 = 0.209 and 0.138, respectively), in two conditions: (i) at rest for 30 minutes and (ii) under exhaustive effort. The data were analyzed using a Bayesian statistical approach. RESULTS: SCWT performance under hypoxic conditions showed no difference compared with exposure moments (before and after), as well as showed no difference compared with normoxic conditions. The SpO 2 in hypoxic conditions was significantly lower than in normoxia conditions, unlike HR, which revealed no difference. The hypoxia dose at rest and under exhaustive effort was 2.5 and 0.8 %.h, respectively. CONCLUSION: Despite a drop in SpO 2 and with hypoxia doses equivalent to 2.5 and 0.8 %.h, it was not possible to confirm differences in the indices related to attention. This indicates the existence of a minimum hypoxia dose to affect cognitive performance.

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Effect of Acute Normobaric Hypoxia Exposure on Executive Functions among Young Physically Active Males

Cited by 14 publications

References 53 publications

Acute Normobaric Hypoxia Lowers Executive Functions among Young Men despite Increase of BDNF Concentration

Acute Normobaric Hypoxia Lowers Executive Functions among Young Men despite Increase of BDNF Concentration

Cognition and Neuropsychological Changes at Altitude—A Systematic Review of Literature

Effect of normobaric hypoxia exposure and exercise on attention

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