EFFECT OF INTERMITTENT NORMOBARIC HYPOXIA ON COGNITION AND CORTICAL ACTIVITY IN YOUNG ADULTS

• Grant number: 25/05938-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physical Education
• Principal Investigator: Fabio Augusto Barbieri
• Grantee: Alline do Valle
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências (FC). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Bauru. Bauru , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Intermittent Normobaric Hypoxia (INH) has been considered a strategy to promote hematological and metabolic adaptations, enhancing the functionality of different tissues. However, due to the lower availability of oxygen to the brain, cognitive declines may occur during INH sessions, which needs to be better understood. This project will investigate the acute effects of INH on the prefrontal cortex and cognition of young adults in a resting state, as well as the relationship between the variables of interest. Following a randomized, crossover, and double-blind design, 40 participants will attend two laboratory visits, separated by a 7-day washout period. During one of the visits, INH will be applied through 4×5 min in hypoxia (~10.6% O¿), interspersed with 3×5 min in normoxia (~21.1% O¿), totaling 35 min of intervention. In the other visit, participants will remain seated for 35 min in normoxia. For this purpose, bidirectional masks connected to an E-100 Hypoxic Generator will be used. Cortical hemodynamic responses will be monitored throughout the session using functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy, allowing the determination of oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin concentrations. Additionally, cognitive function will be assessed using simple reaction time, the Color-Word Stroop Task, and the Go/No-Go Task, which will be administered before, during, immediately after, and twenty minutes after the interventions. Hemodynamic variables and cognitive performance will be compared using two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), considering the intervention (INH vs. normoxia) and the time points of assessment. Furthermore, hemodynamic variables and cognitive performance will be correlated using Pearson's correlation. The expected results aim to contribute to a better understanding of the effects of INH on the analyzed cortical region and cognition, thereby expanding its potential clinical applications and performance enhancement.