Investigating Effects of Cold Water Hand Immersion on Selective Attention in Normobaric Hypoxia

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of cold-water hand immersion on selective attention as measured by the Stroop Color Word Test in nomorbaric normoxia and hypoxia. Ten healthy men rested for 60 min, after which they immersed their non-dominant hand into 5 °C water for 15 min. The interference score of the Stroop Color Word Test and thermal sensation were measured at baseline in the final 5 min of resting and in the final 5 min of cold water hand immersion. The interference score was not influenced by hypoxia but was found to be significantly improved compared to resting in both conditions during cold water hand immersion. Selective attention improved during 15 min of cold-water hand immersion, with increased thermal sensations rated as “very cool” of the immersed arm. Cold-water hand immersion may be helpful in improving cognitive function in normoxia and normobaric hypoxia.

The interactive effects of acute exercise and hypoxia on cognitive performance: A narrative review

“…Many studies have attempted to explore the physiological mechanism(s) underlying cognitive improvement during/after acute exercise. For example, arousal level has been suggested to be associated with cognitive performance . Previous studies using electroencephalogram suggest increases in arousal level following aerobic exercise at moderate intensity .…”

“…For example, arousal level has been suggested to be associated with cognitive performance. 3,4,47,59 Previous studies using electroencephalogram suggest increases in arousal level following aerobic exercise at moderate intensity. 60,61 Although it has been widely accepted that moderate exercise increases arousal to an optimal level and thus improves cognitive performance, 3,4 neural substrates of increased arousal level have not been elucidated.…”

Sensitivity of cognitive function tests to acute hypoxia in healthy subjects: a systematic literature review

“…Eighteen studies were performed in a hypoxic chamber ( Asmaro et al, 2013 ; Kim et al, 2015 ; Seo et al, 2015 ; Lefferts et al, 2016 ; Legg et al, 2016 ; Valk et al, 2016 ; Beer et al, 2017 ; Feeback et al, 2017 ; Seo et al, 2017 ; Decroix et al, 2018 ; Reményi et al, 2018 ; Gerhart et al, 2019 ; Williams et al, 2019 ; Seech et al, 2020 ; Blacker and McHail, 2021 ; Blacker and McHail, 2022 ; Chroboczek et al, 2022 ; Falla et al, 2022 ; Kerr et al, 2022 ), 16 with a breathing mask that induced hypoxia ( Turner et al, 2015a ; Noble et al, 1993 ; Ochi et al, 2018 ; Malle et al, 2016 ; Lei et al, 2019 ; Caldwell et al, 2018 ; Hewett et al, 2010 ; Legg et al, 2012 ; Ogoh et al, 2018 ; Stepanek et al, 2013 ; Nakata et al, 2017 ; Loprinzi et al, 2019 ; Kourtidou-Papadeli et al, 2008 ; Turner et al, 2015b ), two studies were performed at altitude ( Wang et al, 2013 ; Davranche et al, 2016 ), one both at altitude and in a chamber ( Kammerer et al, 2018 ), and one both in a chamber and with a breathing mask ( Rossetti et al, 2021 ). The exposure duration ranged from 10 min to 6.5 h with 92% of studies using durations of <3 h. The data points obtained were divided into exposure to normobaric hypoxia (133; 67%) and hypobaric hypoxia (66; 33%).…”