Study of the Effects of Acute Exposure to Moderate Altitude Hypoxia on Prospective Memory.

Summary

The goal of this study is to investigate whether prospective memory, i.e., memory for delayed intentions, is impaired at moderate altitude (4,000m).

It will also allow to study the effect of air and oxygen administration during hypoxia exposure.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Does moderate acute hypoxia impair prospective memory ?
* If so, does air or oxygen adminsitration induce a restoration of prospective memory? Researchers will compare cognitive performance during normobaric hypoxia exposure to cognitive performance during normoxia (control situation).

Participants will:

* Session S0. Perform a battery of neuropsychological tests and questionnaires). EEG will be recorded during tests. A cheek swab will be performed.
* Sessions S1 and S2. Perform several cognitive tasks while exposed to hypoxia and to normoxia (2 different sessions, randomized order) in a normobaric chamber. These are standardized cognitive tests administered on a computer and cognitive tests embedded in a flight simulator scenario. Various questionnaires will be performed on a regular basis. Several physiological measurements will be performed continuously: EEG, ECG, SpO2 and breathing rate. Blood pressure will be measured at the beginning and at the end of hypoxia/normoxia exposure. A blood sample will also be performed. At last, participants will inhale air or oxygen through a mask while making a cognitive task in the chamber.

Conditions

• Hypoxia
• Hypoxia Brain
• Hypoxia Altitude Simulation Test
• Hypoxia in Healthy Individuals
• Hypoxia, Altitude
• Hypoxia, Brain
• Altitude
• Altitude Hypoxia
• Normobaric Hypoxia

Interventions

OTHER

Hypoxia exposure

Normobaric hypoxia exposure (FiO2 = 12,6%, equivalent to 4,000m) during 4h

DRUG

Oxygen administration

Oxygen administration (FiO2 = 100%) through a mask during 10 minutes

OTHER

Air administration

Air administration (Fi02 = 21%) through a mask during 10 minutes

BEHAVIORAL

Standardized cognitive tests (on a computer)

Auditory oddball, visual oddball, event-based prospective memory, time-based prospective memory, n-back.

DEVICE

Physiological measurements

EEG, ECG, SpO2, breathing rate, eyetracking, blood pressure

BIOLOGICAL

Blood sample

A blood sample is collected for mitochondrial breathing analyses

BEHAVIORAL

Cognitive tests embedded in a flight simulator scenario

Event-based prospective memory and time-based prospective memory. Prepar3D flight simulator.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Direction Centrale du Service de Santé des Armées

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

45 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-05-06

Primary Completion

2026-12-31

Completion

2026-12-31

Countries

• France

Study Locations