Study of the Effects of Acute Exposure to Moderate Altitude Hypoxia on Prospective Memory.

NCT07585227 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2026-A00082-49
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 50
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this study is to investigate whether prospective memory, i.e., memory for delayed intentions, is impaired at moderate altitude (4,000m). It will also allow to study the effect of air and oxygen administration during hypoxia exposure. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Does moderate acute hypoxia impair prospective memory ?
• If so, does air or oxygen adminsitration induce a restoration of prospective memory? Researchers will compare cognitive performance during normobaric hypoxia exposure to cognitive performance during normoxia (control situation). Participants will:
• Session S0. Perform a battery of neuropsychological tests and questionnaires). EEG will be recorded during tests. A cheek swab will be performed.
• Sessions S1 and S2. Perform several cognitive tasks while exposed to hypoxia and to normoxia (2 different sessions, randomized order) in a normobaric chamber. These are standardized cognitive tests administered on a computer and cognitive tests embedded in a flight simulator scenario. Various questionnaires will be performed on a regular basis. Several physiological measurements will be performed continuously: EEG, ECG, SpO2 and breathing rate. Blood pressure will be measured at the beginning and at the end of hypoxia/normoxia exposure. A blood sample will also be performed. At last, participants will inhale air or oxygen through a mask while making a cognitive task in the chamber.

Conditions

Hypoxia; Hypoxia, Brain; Hypoxia in Healthy Individuals; Hypoxia, Altitude; Altitude; Altitude Hypoxia; Normobaric Hypoxia; Hypoxia Altitude Simulation Test

Keywords

prospective memory; working memory; flight simulator

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in event-based prospective memory accuracy between hypoxia and normoxia conditions

  Accuracy (%) = Prospective memory target detection rate (number of targets correctly responded to / total number of targets presented × 100)

  Through study completion, an average of 1 month

Study Arms (4)

Normoxia-Air + Hypoxia-Air

EXPERIMENTAL

S1 = Normoxia exposure + air administration S2 = Hypoxia exposure + air administration

Other: Hypoxia exposure; Other: Air administration; Behavioral: Standardized cognitive tests (on a computer); Device: Physiological measurements; Biological: Blood sample; Behavioral: Cognitive tests embedded in a flight simulator scenario

Hypoxia-Air + Normoxia-Air

EXPERIMENTAL

S1 = Hypoxia exposure + air administration S2 = Normoxia exposure + air administration

Other: Hypoxia exposure; Other: Air administration; Behavioral: Standardized cognitive tests (on a computer); Device: Physiological measurements; Biological: Blood sample; Behavioral: Cognitive tests embedded in a flight simulator scenario

Normoxia-O2 + Hypoxia-O2

EXPERIMENTAL

S1 = Normoxia exposure + oxygen administration S2 = Hypoxia exposure + oxygen administration

Other: Hypoxia exposure; Drug: Oxygen administration; Behavioral: Standardized cognitive tests (on a computer); Device: Physiological measurements; Biological: Blood sample; Behavioral: Cognitive tests embedded in a flight simulator scenario

Hypoxia-O2 + Normoxia-O2

EXPERIMENTAL

S1 = Hypoxia exposure + oxygen administration S2 = Normoxia exposure + oxygen administration

Other: Hypoxia exposure; Drug: Oxygen administration; Behavioral: Standardized cognitive tests (on a computer); Device: Physiological measurements; Biological: Blood sample; Behavioral: Cognitive tests embedded in a flight simulator scenario

Interventions

Hypoxia exposure OTHER

Normobaric hypoxia exposure (FiO2 = 12,6%, equivalent to 4,000m) during 4h

Hypoxia-Air + Normoxia-Air; Hypoxia-O2 + Normoxia-O2; Normoxia-Air + Hypoxia-Air; Normoxia-O2 + Hypoxia-O2

Oxygen administration DRUG

Oxygen administration (FiO2 = 100%) through a mask during 10 minutes

Hypoxia-O2 + Normoxia-O2; Normoxia-O2 + Hypoxia-O2

Air administration OTHER

Air administration (Fi02 = 21%) through a mask during 10 minutes

Hypoxia-Air + Normoxia-Air; Normoxia-Air + Hypoxia-Air

Standardized cognitive tests (on a computer) BEHAVIORAL

Auditory oddball, visual oddball, event-based prospective memory, time-based prospective memory, n-back.

Hypoxia-Air + Normoxia-Air; Hypoxia-O2 + Normoxia-O2; Normoxia-Air + Hypoxia-Air; Normoxia-O2 + Hypoxia-O2

Physiological measurements DEVICE

EEG, ECG, SpO2, breathing rate, eyetracking, blood pressure

Hypoxia-Air + Normoxia-Air; Hypoxia-O2 + Normoxia-O2; Normoxia-Air + Hypoxia-Air; Normoxia-O2 + Hypoxia-O2

Blood sample BIOLOGICAL

A blood sample is collected for mitochondrial breathing analyses

Hypoxia-Air + Normoxia-Air; Hypoxia-O2 + Normoxia-O2; Normoxia-Air + Hypoxia-Air; Normoxia-O2 + Hypoxia-O2

Cognitive tests embedded in a flight simulator scenario BEHAVIORAL

Event-based prospective memory and time-based prospective memory. Prepar3D flight simulator.

Hypoxia-Air + Normoxia-Air; Hypoxia-O2 + Normoxia-O2; Normoxia-Air + Hypoxia-Air; Normoxia-O2 + Hypoxia-O2

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 45 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Healthy volunteer
• Has provided informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Individuals who do not understand French
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women
• Cardiovascular risk factor
• Infectious disease within the last 4 weeks
• Chronic cardiovascular, respiratory, hematological, neurological, psychiatric, or metabolic disease
• History of epileptic seizures, convulsions, or loss of consciousness
• Individuals with migraines
• History of a bleeding disorder
• History of high blood pressure
• Current medication use (excluding contraception)
• History of episodes of altitude intolerance
• Stay at high altitude (\> 3,500 m) within the last 3 months
• Anxiety score on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale \> 7
• Depression score on the HAD scale \> 7
• Uncontrollable claustrophobia or a history of panic attacks

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Direction Centrale du Service de Santé des Armées: lead

Study Sites (1)

Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées

Brétigny-sur-Orge, 91220, France

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Hypoxia; Hypoxia, Brain; Altitude Sickness

Interventions

Oxygen; Blood Specimen Collection

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Signs and Symptoms, Respiratory; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Respiration Disorders; Respiratory Tract Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Chalcogens; Elements; Inorganic Chemicals; Gases; Specimen Handling; Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures; Diagnosis; Punctures; Surgical Procedures, Operative; Investigative Techniques

Central Study Contacts

Carine MALLE, PhD

CONTACT

178651479; carine.malle@gmail.com

Fabien SAUVET, MD, PhD

CONTACT

fabien.sauvet@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Randomized repeated-measures crossover design

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 30, 2026
• First Posted: May 13, 2026
• Study Start: May 6, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026
• Last Updated: May 13, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

FR (1)