Normobaric hypoxia overnight impairs cognitive reaction time
Abstract Background Impaired reaction time in patients suffering from hypoxia during sleep, caused by sleep breathing disorders, is a well-described phenomenon. High altitude sleep is known to induce periodic breathing with central apneas and oxygen desaturations, even in perfectly healthy subjects....
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2017-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Neuroscience |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12868-017-0362-3 |
| _version_ | 1828517785191317504 |
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| author | Stephan Pramsohler Stefan Wimmer Martin Kopp Hannes Gatterer Martin Faulhaber Martin Burtscher Nikolaus Cristoph Netzer |
| author_facet | Stephan Pramsohler Stefan Wimmer Martin Kopp Hannes Gatterer Martin Faulhaber Martin Burtscher Nikolaus Cristoph Netzer |
| author_sort | Stephan Pramsohler |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Impaired reaction time in patients suffering from hypoxia during sleep, caused by sleep breathing disorders, is a well-described phenomenon. High altitude sleep is known to induce periodic breathing with central apneas and oxygen desaturations, even in perfectly healthy subjects. However, deficits in reaction time in mountaineers or workers after just some nights of hypoxia exposure are not sufficiently explored. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the impact of sleep in a normobaric hypoxic environment on reaction time divided by its cognitive and motoric components. Eleven healthy non acclimatized students (5f, 6m, 21 ± 2.1 years) slept one night at a simulated altitude of 3500 m in a normobaric hypoxic room, followed by a night with polysomnography at simulated 5500 m. Preexisting sleep disorders were excluded via BERLIN questionnaire. All subjects performed a choice reaction test (SCHUHFRIED RT, S3) at 450 m and directly after the nights at simulated 3500 and 5500 m. Results We found a significant increase of cognitive reaction time with higher altitude (p = 0.026). No changes were detected in movement time (p = n.s.). Reaction time, the combined parameter of cognitive- and motoric reaction time, didn’t change either (p = n.s.). Lower SpO2 surprisingly correlated significantly with shorter cognitive reaction time (r = 0.78, p = 0.004). Sleep stage distribution and arousals at 5500 m didn’t correlate with reaction time, cognitive reaction time or movement time. Conclusion Sleep in hypoxia does not seem to affect reaction time to simple tasks. The component of cognitive reaction time is increasingly delayed whereas motoric reaction time seems not to be affected. Low SpO2 and arousals are not related to increased cognitive reaction time therefore the causality remains unclear. The fact of increased cognitive reaction time after sleep in hypoxia, considering high altitude workers and mountaineering operations with overnight stays, should be further investigated. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T18:46:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ccbef615433f478f932f4fd4cfd108cd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2202 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T18:46:12Z |
| publishDate | 2017-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-ccbef615433f478f932f4fd4cfd108cd2022-12-22T00:54:27ZengBMCBMC Neuroscience1471-22022017-05-011811610.1186/s12868-017-0362-3Normobaric hypoxia overnight impairs cognitive reaction timeStephan Pramsohler0Stefan Wimmer1Martin Kopp2Hannes Gatterer3Martin Faulhaber4Martin Burtscher5Nikolaus Cristoph Netzer6Hermann Buhl Institute for Hypoxia and Sleep Medicine ResearchHermann Buhl Institute for Hypoxia and Sleep Medicine ResearchDepartment of Sport Science, University InnsbruckDepartment of Sport Science, University InnsbruckDepartment of Sport Science, University InnsbruckDepartment of Sport Science, University InnsbruckHermann Buhl Institute for Hypoxia and Sleep Medicine ResearchAbstract Background Impaired reaction time in patients suffering from hypoxia during sleep, caused by sleep breathing disorders, is a well-described phenomenon. High altitude sleep is known to induce periodic breathing with central apneas and oxygen desaturations, even in perfectly healthy subjects. However, deficits in reaction time in mountaineers or workers after just some nights of hypoxia exposure are not sufficiently explored. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the impact of sleep in a normobaric hypoxic environment on reaction time divided by its cognitive and motoric components. Eleven healthy non acclimatized students (5f, 6m, 21 ± 2.1 years) slept one night at a simulated altitude of 3500 m in a normobaric hypoxic room, followed by a night with polysomnography at simulated 5500 m. Preexisting sleep disorders were excluded via BERLIN questionnaire. All subjects performed a choice reaction test (SCHUHFRIED RT, S3) at 450 m and directly after the nights at simulated 3500 and 5500 m. Results We found a significant increase of cognitive reaction time with higher altitude (p = 0.026). No changes were detected in movement time (p = n.s.). Reaction time, the combined parameter of cognitive- and motoric reaction time, didn’t change either (p = n.s.). Lower SpO2 surprisingly correlated significantly with shorter cognitive reaction time (r = 0.78, p = 0.004). Sleep stage distribution and arousals at 5500 m didn’t correlate with reaction time, cognitive reaction time or movement time. Conclusion Sleep in hypoxia does not seem to affect reaction time to simple tasks. The component of cognitive reaction time is increasingly delayed whereas motoric reaction time seems not to be affected. Low SpO2 and arousals are not related to increased cognitive reaction time therefore the causality remains unclear. The fact of increased cognitive reaction time after sleep in hypoxia, considering high altitude workers and mountaineering operations with overnight stays, should be further investigated.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12868-017-0362-3Reaction timeHypoxiaCognitionSleepExtreme altitude |
| spellingShingle | Stephan Pramsohler Stefan Wimmer Martin Kopp Hannes Gatterer Martin Faulhaber Martin Burtscher Nikolaus Cristoph Netzer Normobaric hypoxia overnight impairs cognitive reaction time BMC Neuroscience Reaction time Hypoxia Cognition Sleep Extreme altitude |
| title | Normobaric hypoxia overnight impairs cognitive reaction time |
| title_full | Normobaric hypoxia overnight impairs cognitive reaction time |
| title_fullStr | Normobaric hypoxia overnight impairs cognitive reaction time |
| title_full_unstemmed | Normobaric hypoxia overnight impairs cognitive reaction time |
| title_short | Normobaric hypoxia overnight impairs cognitive reaction time |
| title_sort | normobaric hypoxia overnight impairs cognitive reaction time |
| topic | Reaction time Hypoxia Cognition Sleep Extreme altitude |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12868-017-0362-3 |
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