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Oxygen administration and explicit memory: no improvement found in healthy volunteers
H L Dimpel1, J R Sneyd, H Sanders
1Department of Anaesthesia, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, Australia.
British Journal of Anaesthesia
|February 26, 2000
Summary
Breathing supplemental oxygen did not improve memory recall in healthy adults. This study found no significant difference in word recall after inhaling oxygen compared to breathing normal air.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Human Physiology
- Respiratory Medicine
Background:
- Previous suggestions indicated that supplemental oxygen might enhance memory in healthy individuals.
- The cognitive effects of normobaric oxygen in healthy populations require rigorous investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the hypothesis that oxygen administration improves memory performance in healthy volunteers.
- To quantify the effect of breathing oxygen versus air on short-term verbal memory recall.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study was conducted.
- Twenty healthy, non-smoking volunteers participated, undergoing both air and oxygen exposure.
- Memory was assessed using a 20-word list recall test administered after each gas exposure.
Main Results:
- Oxygen exposure resulted in a mean recall of 8.3 words.
- Air exposure resulted in a mean recall of 9 words.
- There was no statistically significant difference in memory recall between oxygen and air conditions.
Conclusions:
- Supplemental oxygen administration does not appear to enhance short-term verbal memory in healthy non-smokers.
- The findings do not support the hypothesis that increased oxygen intake improves cognitive function in this population.