Different neurocognitive patterns of conflict control in Tibetans living above and below 4,000 m

PeerJ

article

Hailin Ma¹  Buxin Han¹  Yan Wang¹ 

[1] Center on Aging Psychology, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology;University of Chinese Academy of Sciences;Plateau Brain Science Research Center, Tibet University/South China Normal University

关键词: Altitude threshold;    Conflict control;    Event-related potentials (ERPs);    Flanker task;    Tibetan;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.7269

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThe existence of a particular threshold of hypoxia severity, beyond which neuropsychological functioning is compromised, is unclear. We investigated the neurocognitive profile related to conflict control in healthy young Tibetans born and living at three different altitudes (2,700 m, 3,700 m, and 4,500 m) in Tibet to investigate the existence of this threshold.MethodsUsing event-related potentials (ERPs), the conflict control functions of individuals in the three altitude groups were investigated by means of a flanker task, using congruent and incongruent stimuli. The data were analyzed using mixed-model analyses of variance.ResultsAlthough effect of altitude was not significant at a behavioral level (p 0.05), the ERPs showed cognitive conflict modulation. The N2 difference wave (for incongruent minus congruent conditions) was smaller in the 4,500-m group than in the groups living below 4,000 m (p < 0.05). The study’s findings suggest that the influence of high altitude in the conflict monitoring stage becomes significant above 4,000 m. Thus, the altitude threshold for impairment of cognition may be 4,000 m.

【 授权许可】

CC BY