Physiological and cognitive responses to hyperoxic exercise in full water submersion

The positive effects of combined hyperoxia and physical exercise on physiological parameters and cognitive functioning are established for normobaric laboratory contexts. Still, increased practicability exists in hyperbaric settings like underwater activities and SCUBA diving, where environmental and sport-specific factors might moderate effects. Improved cognition, reduced ventilation (V̇_E), and lower blood lactate concentrations [Lac^-] are highly relevant, especially during high-stress and rescue scenarios. Fifteen participants performed 3 × 8 min of continuous underwater fin-swimming at 25 % (low), 45 % (moderate), and 75 % (vigorous) heart rate reserve (HRR) in each test. Three separate test days differed solely by the inspiratory oxygen partial pressure (P_IO₂: 29 kPa, 56 kPa, and 140 kPa). V̇_E was measured continuously, whereas breathing gas analysis, blood sampling, and Eriksen Flanker tasks for inhibitory control (100 stimuli) were performed post-exercise. Two-way ANOVAs with repeated measures on the factors P_IO₂ and exercise intensity analyzed physiological outcome variables and reactions times (RT) and accuracy (ACC) of inhibitory control. V̇_E was significantly reduced for 140 kPa during moderate and vigorous and for 56 kPa during vigorous compared to 29 kPa. 56 kPa and 140 kPa showed no differences. [Lac^-], post-exercise V̇CO₂, and velocity were unaffected by P_IO₂. Faster RTs but lower ACC of inhibitory control were observed following exercise at 75 % HRR compared to rest, 25 %, and 45 % HRR, while P_IO₂ produced no effects. Underwater performance in hyperoxia presents reduced V̇_E, possible by dampened chemoreceptor sensitivity, and effects on cognition that differ from laboratory results and emphasise the moderating role of sport-specific factors.