Influences of Oxygen Administration on Visuospatial Cognitive Performance and Physiological Signals

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of 30% oxygen administration on visuospatial cognitive performance, blood oxygen saturation, and heart rate. Six male (25.8±1.0 years) and six female (23.8±1.9 years) college students were selected as the subjects for this study. Two psychological tests were developed to measure the performance level of visuospatial cognition. The experiment consisted of two runs: one was a visuospatial 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 Rest1 (1 min), Control (1 min), Task (4 min), and Rest2 (4 min). Blood oxygen saturation and heart rate were measured throughout the four phases. The results of the visuospatial 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 and heart rate was decreased compared to that with 21% oxygen administration. It can be concluded that, during cognitive processing, 30% oxygen administration increased blood oxygen saturation and had a positive effect on visuospatial cognitive performance.