NCT04075565

The Psychophysiological Effect of Simulated and Terrestrial Altitude

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 20 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 50 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The aim of this study is to compare the psychophysiological effects of terrestrial altitude with a normobaric, hypoxic situation.

Detailed description

Research has consistently shown that exposure to extreme environments (such as high altitude stays) may affect cognitive function. For logistical reasons and to control the experimental set-ups, most of these examinations are carried out in the laboratory. By testing under such controlled conditions, researchers can remove any co-foundational factors and isolate the cause of stress, thereby better understanding the mechanisms by which impairment can occur. However, when people are exposed to such environments in the "real world" (such as altitude), they often experience a number of other additional stressors at the same time, which can also affect their performance. Surprisingly, however, little attention has been paid to the study of these additional stressors in combination. Although the oxygen content remains constant at various altitudes (20.93%), the air pressure decreases exponentially as the altitude increases. As a result, the oxygen partial pressure in arterial blood and tissue is reduced (hypoxia), leading to a deterioration in both physical and cognitive performance. Hypoxic conditions also alter the perception of pain, which may be particularly relevant for patients suffering from hypoxic conditions. According to the authors' knowledge, there is limited literature investigating and comparing simulated and real psychophysiological responses.

Conditions

• Hypoxia
• Altitude Hypoxia
• Altitude Sickness
• Altitude
• Mountain Sickness
• Hypoxia, Altitude

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Terrestrial altitude	Terrestrial altitude: The volunteers are in an SAC hut at an altitude of 3000 m. By means of this exposure the psychophysiological effect under hypobaric and hypoxic conditions is determined. The subjects spend the night in this SAC hut and the measurements are repeated the next day.
BEHAVIORAL	Cloud 9	Cloud 9 is a solid, certified product that complies with European Directives on Electromagnetic Compatibility, Machine Directive, Air Pressure Equipment and Low Voltage Equipment (89/336 / EEC, 91/368 / CEE, 93/68 / CEE, 97/23 / EC, EN61010-1 All directives are in writing in the Supplements to this Ethics Application. Simulated height: The subjects are in the laboratory of our institution and are connected to the Cloud 9 by means of a mask. Subjects are exposed to a simulated altitude of 3530m under normobaric conditions. By means of this intervention the psychophysiological effect under normobaric and hypoxic conditions is determined.

Timeline

• Start date: 2019-06-24
• Primary completion: 2021-03-31
• Completion: 2022-04-30
• First posted: 2019-08-30
• Last updated: 2026-02-19
• Results posted: 2026-02-19

Locations

3 sites across 1 country: Switzerland