Psychological effects of mild acute hypoxia.

Performance on a free-recall memory test and a scanning task was assessed in subjects acutely exposed in a decompression chamber to simulated altitudes of 2,000 (PIO2≏139 mm Hg) and 12,000 feet (PIO2≏92 mm Hg). There was no evidence that the degree of hypoxia experienced at the higher altitude resulted in any impairment of psychological performance. The results are discussed in relation to previous reports in the literature that lesser degrees of hypoxia than that experienced at 12,000 feet may lead to specific psychological deficits.