Effect of 30% Oxygen Administration on Verbal Cognitive Performance, Blood Oxygen Saturation and Heart Rate

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of 30% oxygen administration on verbal cognitive performance, blood oxygen saturation, and heart rate. Five male (24.6(+/-0.9) years) and five female (22.2(+/-1.9) years) college students were selected as the subjects for this study. Two psychological tests were developed to measure the performance level of verbal cognition. The experiment consisted of two runs: one was a verbal cognition task, with normal air (21% oxygen) administered and the other was with hyperoxic air (30% oxygen) administered. The experimental sequence in each run consisted of Rest 1 (1 min), Control (1 min), Task (4 min), and Rest 2 (4 min). Blood oxygen saturation and heart rate were measured throughout the four phases. The results of the verbal behavioural analysis reveal that accuracy rates were enhanced with 30% oxygen administration compared to 21% oxygen. When 30% oxygen was supplied, blood oxygen saturation was increased significantly compared to that with 21% oxygen administration, whereas heart rate showed no significant difference. Significant positive correlations were found between changes in oxygen saturation and cognitive performance. This result supports the hypothesis that 30% oxygen administration would lead to increases in verbal cognitive performance.