ArticlePloS one2018
The influence of hypoxia and prolonged exercise on attentional performance at high and extreme altitudes: A pilot study.
Article in PloS one, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 35 citations in OpenAlex.
- Does exercise have a protective effect on cognitive function under hypoxia? A systematic review with meta-analysis.Journal of sport and health science · 2020Pooled it
- Simulated Acute Hypobaric Hypoxia Effects on Cognition in Helicopter Emergency Medical Service Personnel - A Randomized, Controlled, Single-Blind, Crossover Trial.Human factors · 2024Trial
- Concomitant dual-site tDCS and dark chocolate improve cognitive and endurance performance following cognitive effort under hypoxia: a randomized controlled trial.Scientific reports · 2023Trial
- Article
- Hypoxia's Impact on Hippocampal Functional Connectivity: Insights from Resting-State fMRI Studies.Brain sciences · 2025Review
- Effect of intermittent normobaric hypoxia on executive functions assessed with different cognitive tests in healthy young subjects.Frontiers in psychology · 2025Article
- Review
- A review of methods for assessment of cognitive function in high-altitude hypoxic environments.Brain and behavior · 2024Review
- Sestrin2 protects against hypoxic nerve injury by regulating mitophagy through SESN2/AMPK pathway.Frontiers in molecular biosciences · 2023Article
- Cognition and Neuropsychological Changes at Altitude-A Systematic Review of Literature.Brain sciences · 2022Review
- Effect of a speed ascent to the top of Europe on cognitive function in elite climbers.European journal of applied physiology · 2022Article
- Migraine and aura triggered by normobaric hypoxia.Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache · 2020Article
- Article
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Authors and funding
2 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionExposure to hypoxic conditions is reported to impair cognitive performance. Further, moderate physical exercise improves cognitive function, but little is known about the influence of exercise on cognitive function in hypoxia. Therefore, the current study aimed to examine the influence of hypoxia (HYP) and prolonged exercise (EX) on attentional performance.
methodsA total of 80 participants (female: n = 29; male: n = 51) were assigned to four groups: HYP + EX (n = 15), HYP (n = 25), EX (n = 21) and normoxia (NOR) (n = 21). The Frankfurt Attention Inventory-2 (FAIR-2) was performed at four testing points (day 1, 14, 16 and 18) to assess attentional performance. All groups completed a pretest (D1) and a follow-up test (D18). In HYP + EX conditions, the cognitive task was performed in a hypoxic state after prolonged exercise (D14: 3950 m, D16: 5739 m) during a mountain climb on Mt. Kilimanjaro. Participants in HYP were tested under intermittent hypoxia at rest in a hypoxic chamber (D14: 3500 m, D16: 5800 m), and those in EX were tested under normoxia after prolonged exercise during a 7-day backcountry ski hiking tour. NOR was a control group, and participants completed all tests under normoxia and at rest.
resultsHypoxia impaired the attentional functions performance value (PV) and continuity value (CV) for the HYP + EX (p = 0.000) and HYP (L: p = 0.025; K: p = 0.043) groups at 5739 m and 5800 m, respectively, but not the function quality value (QV). In contrast, the EX group did not exhibit changes in attentional function.
conclusionThe current results suggest that attentional performance is impaired during extreme normobaric and hypobaric hypoxic exposure. We further conclude that greater cognitive impairment under hypobaric hypoxia during a mountain climb compared with normobaric hypoxia at rest is not caused by prolonged exercise, but may be influenced by other factors (e.g. low temperatures, dehydration, or sleep deprivation) that remain to be verified.
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