Cognitive Changes at High Altitude

Abstract

The effects of hypoxia on cognitive functions were investigated in two experiments. Two types of problem-solving and two immediate-memory tasks were used. The first experiment, carried out with five Ss for three days at 12,470 ft. after 15 days of practice at sea level, showed no changes in performance. In the second experiment, practice effects were counterbalanced with seven Ss for two days at sea level and two days at 14,250 ft. The results showed a significant impairment of performance in one kind of problem-solving, significant improvement in the other, and no significant change in immediate memory. In both experiments, Ss showed significant responses to hypoxia on the physiological measures taken. In Exp. II, the improved problem-solving was significantly correlated with changes in temperature and pulse rate, but the impaired problem performance did not achieve a significant correlation with these measures. The results suggest that performance under hypoxic conditions may depend upon an interaction among several factors including degree of practice, complexity of the psychological functions, and Ss' ability to respond to awareness of physiological deficits by increased effort.