Viewing the human brain s response to cockpit levels of hyperoxia
Abstract
Hypoxia-like symptoms of “disorientation, dizziness, andfatigue” occur without warning and rapidly induce cognitive dysfunction. When unnoticed during flight, the outcome can be catastrophic; the civilian Helios Airways Flight 522 crash with 121 fatalities was attributed to a hypoxic pilot and crew.1 Military aircraft are not immune; F-18 Hornet and F22 pilots have experienced “hypoxia-like symptoms”2 with 25% of the F35 fleet recently being grounded until the cause of symptoms can be defined. Although countermeasures have been developed,3 it is clear that pilots continue to experience hypoxia-like symptoms at an increasing frequency.Our ongoing research of human performance within extreme environments is currentlyfunded through Defense Health Program (DHP), 711th Human Performance Wing (711th HPW)of the United States Air Force. Our objective to define environmental and physiologicmechanisms, in addition to hypoxia, that induce cognitive dysfunction and potentially loss ofconsciousness that has been reported during high altitude flight. One funded line of research isfocused on defining the extent that breathing a hyperoxic (100% oxygen) mixture, deliveredthrough the flight mask, alters blood flow throughout the brain. We also study the impact ofbreathing a hyperoxic mixture during execution of maximal ventilatory maneuvers, which reducelikelihood of gravitational force loss of consciousness (GLOC).Our program of research has defined neurochemical, structural and functionalimpairments induced by hypoxia.4,5 Our laboratory employs cutting-edge neuroimagingtechnologies, many developed by our colleagues,6,7 to facilitate quantitative analyses of thehuman brain’s response to hypoxia and hyperoxia. An emerging technology that we haveintegrated within our laboratory is MRI-compatible High Density Electroencephalography (HDEEG).This technology enables precise mapping of patterns of cortical network activity, on areal-time basis.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 11, 2018
- Source ID
- FA95501810426
Entities
People
- Michael J. Decker
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Case Western Reserve University
- United States Air Force