The Physiological Effects of Acute and Ramp Simulated Altitude Exposure During Simulated Flight Tasks

NCT05867719 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2042946-1
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 17
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

• The purpose of this study is to investigate which physiological process that controls normal human body homeostasis is affected by low levels of acute hypoxic exposure and whether there is a difference in those physiological processes and simulated flight performance between a rapid and ramp hypoxic exposure. To accomplish this, pilot analogs will be exposed to normoxic, simulated 8,000 ft (2438 m), simulated 12,000 ft (3658 m), and a ramp exposure breathing at simulated 8,000 ft for 5 minutes before ascending to simulated 12,000 ft while flying in a flight simulator. During the flight simulator, participants will need to accomplish three tasks: 1) Maintaining an altitude of 5,000 ft of elevation while performing a mental math test, 2) Flying the aircraft through the center of a series of 7 targets, and 3) Taking off and flying the aircraft a short distance to land on the center of an indicated target. Physiological measures of heart rate variability (HRV), blood pressure (BP), peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), electrodermal activity (EDA), and neck neuromuscular activity using electromyography (EMG) will be measured for this study. Along with questionnaires to assess hypoxic symptoms, simulator sickness, and self-perceived workload for each task

Conditions

Altitude Hypoxia

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Flight performance

  ability to perform in-flight assigned tasks

  10 minutes per each of the 4 conditions

• Self-perceived workload

  NASA TLX survey

  1 minute to complete the survey, 3 times per condition for 4 conditions

• Electrodermal activity

  electrical characteristics of the skin observed as changes in the resistance of the skin to a small electrical current

  10 minutes per each of the 4 conditions

Study Arms (4)

Normoxic

NO INTERVENTION

Participants will complete three flight simulator tasks at a normoxic (baseline) altitude. During the flight simulator, participants will need to accomplish three tasks: 1) Maintaining an altitude of 5,000 ft of elevation while performing a mental math test, 2) Flying the aircraft through the center of a series of 7 targets, and 3) Taking off and flying the aircraft a short distance to land on the center of an indicated target.

Simulated 8,000 feet hypoxic

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will complete three flight simulator tasks at a simulated 8,000 foot altitude. During the flight simulator, participants will need to accomplish three tasks: 1) Maintaining an altitude of 5,000 ft of elevation while performing a mental math test, 2) Flying the aircraft through the center of a series of 7 targets, and 3) Taking off and flying the aircraft a short distance to land on the center of an indicated target.

Other: Hypoxic breathing conditions

Simulated 12,000 feet hypoxic

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will complete three flight simulator tasks at a simulated 12,000 foot altitude. During the flight simulator, participants will need to accomplish three tasks: 1) Maintaining an altitude of 5,000 ft of elevation while performing a mental math test, 2) Flying the aircraft through the center of a series of 7 targets, and 3) Taking off and flying the aircraft a short distance to land on the center of an indicated target.

Other: Hypoxic breathing conditions

Ramp hypoxic exposure

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will complete three flight simulator tasks in a ramp exposure breathing at simulated 8,000 feet for five minutes before ascending to simulated 12,000 feet while flying in a flight simulator. During the flight simulator, participants will need to accomplish three tasks: 1) Maintaining an altitude of 5,000 ft of elevation while performing a mental math test, 2) Flying the aircraft through the center of a series of 7 targets, and 3) Taking off and flying the aircraft a short distance to land on the center of an indicated target.

Other: Hypoxic breathing conditions

Interventions

Hypoxic breathing conditions OTHER

Participants will undergo three separate hypoxic conditions, along with a normoxic condition, simulating 8,000 foot elevation, 12,0000 foot elevation, and a ramp condition starting at 8,000 feet and then ascending to 12,000 feet.

Ramp hypoxic exposure; Simulated 12,000 feet hypoxic; Simulated 8,000 feet hypoxic

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 40 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Meets body composition standards for the US Navy Active-duty personnel based on height and weight
• Normal vision/corrected to normal vision

You may not qualify if:

• Respiratory Deficiencies
• Cardiovascular Disorders
• Neurological/Musculoskeletal Disorders
• Photosensitive Epilepsy

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Texas, El Paso: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso, Texas, 79902, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Altitude Sickness

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Respiration Disorders; Respiratory Tract Diseases

Study Officials

• Jeffrey Eggleston, PhD

  Associate Professor

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor of Kinesiology

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 13, 2023
• First Posted: May 22, 2023
• Study Start: August 1, 2023
• Primary Completion: April 27, 2026
• Study Completion: April 27, 2026
• Last Updated: May 4, 2026

Record last verified: 2024-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)