title: Cognitive and psychomotor responses to high-altitude exposure in sea level and high-altitude residents of Ecuador.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High-altitude inhabitants have cardiovascular and respiratory adaptations that are advantageous for high-altitude living, but they may have impaired cognitive function. This study evaluated the influence of altitude of residence on cognitive and psychomotor function upon acute exposure to very high altitude.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ecuadorians (31 residing at 0-1,500 m [LOW], 78 from 1,501-3,000 m [MOD], and 23 living >3,000 m [HIGH]) were tested upon their arrival to a hut at 4,860 m on Mount Chimborazo. Cognitive/psychomotor measurements included a go-no-go test (responding to a non-visual stimulus), a verbal fluency test (verbalizing a series of words specific to a particular category), and a hand movement test (rapidly repeating a series of hand positions). Mean differences between the three altitude groups on these cognitive/psychomotor tests were evaluated with one-way ANOVA. There were no significant differences (p = 0.168) between LOW, MOD, and HIGH for the verbal fluency test. However, the go-no-go test was significantly lower (p < 0.001) in the HIGH group (8.8 ± 1.40 correct responses) than the LOW (9.8 ± 0.61) or MOD (9.8 ± 0.55) groups, and both MOD (97.9 ± 31.2) and HIGH (83.5 ± 26.7) groups completed fewer correct hand movements than the LOW (136.6 ± 37.9) subjects (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on this field study, high-altitude residents appear to have some impaired cognitive function suggesting the possibility of maladaptation to long-term exposure to hypobaric hypoxia.
authors: Department of Integrative Physiology and Health Science, Alma College, 614 Superior Street, Alma, MI, 48801, USA. davisj@alma.edu.
authors: John E
authors: JE
authors: Davis
authors: Human Movement Science Program, Utah State University, 7000 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT, 84322, USA. dale.wagner@usu.edu.
authors: Dale R
authors: DR
authors: Wagner
authors: Department of Integrative Physiology and Health Science, Alma College, 614 Superior Street, Alma, MI, 48801, USA. 10nmgarv@gmail.com.
authors: Nathan
authors: N
authors: Garvin
authors: Department of Integrative Physiology and Health Science, Alma College, 614 Superior Street, Alma, MI, 48801, USA. davemoilanen@gmail.com.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Moilanen
authors: Department of Integrative Physiology and Health Science, Alma College, 614 Superior Street, Alma, MI, 48801, USA. jessica.thornington@gmail.com.
authors: Jessica
authors: J
authors: Thorington
authors: Department of Integrative Physiology and Health Science, Alma College, 614 Superior Street, Alma, MI, 48801, USA. schallco@msu.edu.
authors: Cory
authors: C
authors: Schall
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D004484:Ecuador / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
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