The effects of normalbaric hypoxia on cognitive processing in humans were studied by recording event-related potentials (ERP) which were used to diagnose the function of the brain. This study applied the technique to explain the cognitive function of healthy male participants under various simulated high altitudes that included the sea level, 2113m, 3572m, and 5779m. Ten male participants were recruited in this study and four different kinds of oxygen concentration, 20.9%, 16%, 13%, and 10%, were chosen to demonstrate the hypoxia effects on humans. The results revealed: First, the N100 components of ERP were unaffected in the hypoxia condition. Second, there was a significant difference on P300 amplitude between 13%, and 10% oxygen concentrations and the sea level (p<.05). Third, the peak latency of P300, N100 to P300 (peak to peak), and reaction time of ERP increased under the simulated acute hypoxia condition. According to the results of the current study, acute exposured hypoxic conditions would affect the cognitive function of the participants, when the critical oxygen concentration (the hypoxia threshold) was on 13% oxygen concentration.
The effects of normalbaric hypoxia on cognitive processing in humans were studied by recording event-related potentials (ERP) which were used to diagnose the function of the brain. This study applied the technique to explain the cognitive function of healthy male participants under various simulated high altitudes that included the sea level, 2113m, 3572m, and 5779m. Ten male participants were recruited in this study and four different kinds of oxygen concentration, 20.9%, 16%, 13%, and 10%, were chosen to demonstrate the hypoxia effects on humans. The results revealed: First, the N100 components of ERP were unaffected in the hypoxia condition. Second, there was a significant difference on P300 amplitude between 13%, and 10% oxygen concentrations and the sea level (p<.05). Third, the peak latency of P300, N100 to P300 (peak to peak), and reaction time of ERP increased under the simulated acute hypoxia condition. According to the results of the current study, acute exposured hypoxic conditions would affect the cognitive function of the participants, when the critical oxygen concentration (the hypoxia threshold) was on 13% oxygen concentration.