Anatomy & Physiology: Current Research
Open Access

Aerobic Capacity: A Key Component of Cognitive Functions during Hypoxia

Maria Garcia^{* *}Correspondence: Maria Garcia, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain, Email:

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Acute hypobaric hypoxia is a danger for mishaps in flight and can have detrimental effects on cognitive processes. Therefore, in order to protect pilots' mental faculties from potential hypoxic situations during flight, it is crucial to build a hypoxia tolerance. This research had 25 pilot applicants in all. Subjects' aerobic capacity were used to categories them into two groups: High-fit and Low-fit. At an altitude equivalent pressure of 18,000 feet, hypoxia was administered. The cognitive tests Go/NoGo and Digit Span were used twice: once before hypoxia training and once during hypoxia. During hypoxia, the Low-fit group's mean R-Go response time rose considerably for the Go/NoGo test conditions. In contrast to prior to hypoxia training. Additionally, under hypoxia, both the memory span and the total of correct responses dramatically dropped in the Low-fit group for the Digit Span test settings. There hasn't been a discernible difference between the two test parameters during hypoxia in the high-fit group. The study's findings suggest that there may be a protective relationship between physical fitness and the decline in cognitive abilities under hypoxia. It could be beneficial to advise aircrew members to engage in regular physical activity to improve their acute hypoxia tolerance in terms of cognitive abilities. Previous research indicates that acute hypoxia has a deleterious impact on cognitive processes. Moreover, we discovered that during hypoxia at a pressure altitude of 18,000, several cognitive test measures significantly declined. Feet in contrast to the preceding hypoxic period. Moreover, the Low-fit group showed this more clearly than the High-fit group did. This study suggests that there is a protective effect of physical fitness against hypoxia impairment of cognitive processes. According to most reports, hypoxia beyond 18,000 feet has a clear detrimental impact on cognitive processes. Below this altitude, however, hypoxia is mild and moderate, and while adverse effects on working memory, shortterm memory, and response speed were noted, they were not as pronounced as they were at higher altitudes. Additionally, research indicates that mild to moderate cognitive and psychomotor capabilities are not significantly harmed by hypoxia exposure. The effects of mild and moderate hypoxia on cognitive and psychomotor functioning were outlined in a thorough review of the literature on this. This review came to the conclusion that whereas sophisticated cognitive skills were severely impaired during mild and moderate hypoxia, basic cognitive processes were typically retained. The idea of "hidden complex cognitive deteriorations which are not able to be detected easily" was highlighted as being particularly significant in terms of offering a foundation for aircraft mishaps. Additionally, we did not see any discernible cognitive decline, particularly while doing the GNG test at an altitude equivalent pressure of 18,000 feet. In an investigation involving a comparable altitude pressure, the DSPAN backwards test showed a substantial difference as opposed to the DSPAN forward test. Despite the similarities, there may be some discrepancies as a result of our study's greater altitude pressure (by around 1,000 feet) and individuals' quite varied age ranges (19-69 years). Taking into account all of these findings, it can be concluded that exposure to hypoxia might have a detrimental effect on cognitive processes including working memory and short memory.