Effects of hypobaric hypoxia on the human auditory brainstem responses.
Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) were recorded in six volunteers before, during and after 90-min exposure to hypobaric hypoxia (5,184 m; barometric pressure = 405 mmHg) in an altitude chamber. Waves I, III and V absolute and interpeak latencies were analysed. The main result of the experiment was a significant shortening of the brainstem transmission time (I-V interval) in the recovery from hypoxia compared with the basal condition. This finding could be explained with a slow decay of the compensatory mechanisms acting during hypoxia and/or a transient neuronal hyperexcitability at the end of the hypoxic stress.
Urbani
L
L
Italian Air Force, DASRS, Aerospace Medicine Department, Pratica di Mare AFB, Rome, Italy.
Lucertini
M
M
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D001273:Atmosphere Exposure Chambers; D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors