Arterial Oxygen Desaturation Hinders Gamified Working Memory Performance.

This article investigates the impact of moderate normobaric hypoxia (fraction of inspired oxygen, FiO2 ≈ 0.14) on working memory performance using a tablet-based gamified cognitive assessment called Backtracker, developed by Statespace Labs, Inc. In a controlled study with 30 healthy adults, decreases in arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) during hypoxic exposure were associated with reduced accuracy in recalling the correct order and location of tiles, alongside faster but potentially less deliberate response times. These findings suggest that moderate hypoxia impairs both spatial and temporal aspects of working memory, possibly due to reduced planning time or increased cognitive errors. The study highlights the potential utility of gamified cognitive assessments as objective screening tools for detecting hypoxia-induced cognitive deficits in military personnel and emphasizes monitoring SpO2 as a biomarker for cognitive risk during hypoxic exposure.