Gamified assessment of cognitive performance during moderate hypoxia

Jason M. Keeler, Erica Tourula, M. Jo Hite, Jennifer B. Listman, David J. Heeger, Nicholas L. Port, Zachary J. Schlader

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Introduction There is a need for rapid and objective assessment tools to identify people at risk of impaired cognitive function during hypoxia. Purpose To test the hypotheses that performance on gamified cognitive tests examining the cognitive domains of executive function (Gridshot), working memory (Capacity) and spatial tracking (Multitracker) will be reduced during normobaric exposure to moderate normobaric hypoxia. Methods Following three consecutive days of practice, twenty-one healthy adults (27 ± 5 y, 9 females) completed five 1-min rounds of the tablet-based games Gridshot, Capacity, and Multitracker (Statespace Labs, Inc.) at Baseline and 60 and 90 min after exposure to 14.0 ± 0.2% (hypoxia) and 20.6 ± 0.3% (normoxia) oxygen. Both conditions were completed on the same day and were administered in a single-blind, block randomized manner. Arterial oxyhemoglobin saturation was estimated via forehead pulse oximetry (SpO2). Data were analyzed using ANCOVA with a covariate of Baseline. Results Compared to normoxia (98 ± 1%), SpO2 was lower (p < 0.001) at 60 (91 ± 3%) and 90 (91 ± 2%) min of hypoxia. No condition x time interaction effects were identified for any gamified cognitive tests (p ≥ 0.32). A main effect of condition was identified for Capacity (p = 0.05) and Multitracker (p = 0.04), but not Gridshot (p = 0.33). Post hoc analyses of the composite scores for both Capacity (p = 0.11) and Multitracker (p = 0.73) demonstrated no difference between conditions. Conclusion Performance on gamified cognitive tests was not consistently affected by acute normobaric moderate hypoxic exposure.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere0288201
JournalPloS one
Volume18
Issue number7 July
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2023

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Gamified assessment of cognitive performance during moderate hypoxia'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this