Abstract
Purpose
The combined effects of acute hypoxia and exercise on cognition remain to be clarified. We investigated the effect of speed climbing to high altitude on reactivity and inhibitory control in elite climbers.
Methods
Eleven elite climbers performed a speed ascent of the Mont-Blanc (4810 m) and were evaluated pre- (at 1000 m) and immediately post-ascent (at 3835 m). In both conditions, a Simon task was done at rest (single-task session, ST) and during a low-intensity exercise (dual-task session, DT). Prefrontal cortex (PFC) oxygenation and middle cerebral artery velocity (MCAv) were monitored using near-infrared spectroscopy and transcranial Doppler, respectively, during the cognitive task. Self-perceived mental fatigue and difficulty to perform the cognitive tests were estimated using a visual analog scale. Heart rate and pulse oxygenation (SpO2) were monitored during the speed ascent.
Results
Elite climbers performed an intense (~ 50% of the time ≥ 80% of maximal heart rate) and prolonged (8h58 ± 6 min) exercise in hypoxia (minimal SpO2 at 4810 m: 78 ± 4%). Reaction time and accuracy during the Simon task were similar pre- and post-ascent (374 ± 28 ms vs. 385 ± 39 ms and 6 ± 4% vs. 5 ± 4%, respectively; p > 0.05), despite a reported higher mental fatigue and difficulty to perform the Simon task post-ascent (all p < 0.05). The magnitude of the Simon effect was unaltered (p > 0.05), suggesting a preserved cognitive control post-ascent. Pattern of PFC oxygenation and MCAv differed between pre- and post-ascent as well as between ST and DT conditions.
Conclusions
Cognitive control is not altered in elite climbers after a speed ascent to high-altitude despite substantial cerebral deoxygenation and fatigue perception.
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Data availability
The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Code availability
Not applicable.
Abbreviations
- AMS:
-
Acute mountain sickness
- ANOVA:
-
Analysis of variance
- BL:
-
Baseline
- CaO2 :
-
Oxygen arterial content
- CO:
-
Congruent
- DT:
-
Dual task
- ESM:
-
Electronic supplementary material
- fNIRS:
-
Functional near-infrared spectroscopy
- [Hb]:
-
Hemoglobin concentration
- [HHb]:
-
Deoxyhemoglobin
- [HbO2]:
-
Oxyhemoglobin
- [HbTot]:
-
Total hemoglobin
- HR:
-
Heart rate
- IN:
-
Incongruent
- MCA:
-
Middle cerebral artery
- MCAv:
-
Middle cerebral artery mean velocity
- MCA DO2 :
-
Cerebral oxygen delivery through the middle cerebral artery
- PFC:
-
Prefrontal cortex
- SpO2 :
-
Pulse oxygen saturation
- ST:
-
Single task
- TCD:
-
Transcranial Doppler
- TSI:
-
Tissue oxygen saturation index
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Acknowledgements
We thank the elite climbers from the FFCAM and their coaches for their enthusiastic participation, as well as the staff of the Goûter hut for technical assistance, Julia Roger-Veyer (RN) for expert technical assistance and the Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS) délégation Alpes for the provision of the Vallot Observatory. We thank Thibault Le Roux-Mallouf for his fNIRS technical help. Two elite climbers from the Groupe Excellence National Alpinisme (GEAN), who participated in the study, accidentally passed away during the first ascent of the West face of the Mingbo Eiger (6070 m) in Nepal, during collation of this manuscript. The authors express their sincere condolences to the climbers’ families and friends.
Funding
This study was supported by a grant from the FFCAM (Fédération Française des Clubs Alpins et de Montagne). However, the sponsors had no further involvement in any step of the project.
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BC, KD, JVB, SB, SD, PR, PB and SV designed the study. BC, JVB, SB, SD, PR, PB and SV acquired the data. BC, KD and TG performed the statistical analysis. BC, KD, JVB, SB and SV analyzed and interpreted the data. BC, KD, JVB and SV wrote the manuscript. SB, TG, SD, PR and PB revised it for important intellectual content. All authors gave final approval and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of work ensuring integrity and accuracy.
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This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Approval was granted by the French Ethics Committee CPP Ouest VI (approval reference number 2019-A01866-51).
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Communicated by Guido Ferretti.
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The original online version of this article was revised: Electronic supplementary material 2 was originally published with a little error in the footnote of the table S2.
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Champigneulle, B., Davranche, K., Brugniaux, J.V. et al. Effect of a speed ascent to the top of Europe on cognitive function in elite climbers. Eur J Appl Physiol 122, 635–649 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-021-04855-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-021-04855-6