The Physiological Effects of Acute and Ramp Simulated Altitude Exposure During Simulated Flight Tasks

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Altitude Hypoxia

In brief

• The purpose of this study is to investigate which physiological process that controls normal human body homeostasis is affected by low levels of acute hypoxic exposure and whether there is a difference in those physiological processes and simulated flight performance between a rapid and ramp hypoxic exposure. To accomplish this, pilot analogs will be exposed to normoxic, simulated 8,000 ft (2438 m), simulated 12,000 ft (3658 m), and a ramp exposure breathing at simulated 8,000 ft for 5 minutes before ascending to simulated 12,000 ft while flying in a flight simulator. During the flight simulator, participants will need to accomplish three tasks: 1) Maintaining an altitude of 5,000 ft of elevation while performing a mental math test, 2) Flying the aircraft through the center of a series of 7 targets, and 3) Taking off and flying the aircraft a short distance to land on the center of an indicated target. Physiological measures of heart rate variability (HRV), blood pressure (BP), peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), electrodermal activity (EDA), and neck neuromuscular activity using electromyography (EMG) will be measured for this study. Along with questionnaires to assess hypoxic symptoms, simulator sickness, and self-perceived workload for each task

Key facts

Study ID
NCT05867719
Run by
University of Texas, El Paso
People needed
17
Starts
2023-08-01
Expected to finish
2026-04-27
Last updated by the study team
2026-05-04

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 40. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

You may not qualify if…

Where it is running

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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