Effects of high concentration oxygen administration on n-back task performance and physiological signals.
This study investigated the effect of 40% oxygen administration on n-back task performance, blood oxygen saturation and heart rate. Five male (25.8 +/- 1.3 years) and five female (23.0 +/- 1.0 years) college students were selected as the subjects for this study. The experiment consisted of two runs: one was an n-back task with normal air (21% oxygen) administered and the other was with hyperoxic air (40% oxygen) administered. The experimental sequence in each run consisted of Rest1 (1 min), 0-back task (1 min), 2-back task (2 min) and Rest2 (4 min). Blood oxygen saturation and heart rate were measured throughout the four phases. The results of the n-back behavioural analysis reveal that accuracy rates were enhanced with 40% oxygen administration compared to 21% oxygen. When 40% oxygen was supplied, blood oxygen saturation was increased and heart rate was decreased compared to that with 21% oxygen administration. It is suggested that 40% oxygen can stimulate brain activation by increasing actual blood oxygen concentration in the process of cognitive performance, and hyperoxia makes heart rate decrease. This result supports the hypothesis that 40% oxygen administration would lead to increases in n-back task performance.
Chung
Soon-Cheol
SC
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Research Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical & Health Science, Konkuk University, Chungju, South Korea. scchung@kku.ac.kr
Kwon
Ji-Hun
JH
Lee
Hang-Woon
HW
Tack
Gye-Rae
GR
Lee
Bongsoo
B
Yi
Jeong-Han
JH
Lee
Soo-Yeol
SY
D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis
D010100:Oxygen