Table 1.

Neuropsychological responses to hypoxia

Baseline, raw scoresCreatine, raw scoresPlacebo, raw scoresEffect of hypoxiaaEffect of supplementationb
tptp
Alertness rating scale4.1 ± 0.82.7 ± 0.92.6 ± 1.0−4.1< 0.001*0.10.464
Complex attention93.7 ± 16.886.4 ± 22.770.7 ± 51.5−2.00.031*1.80.049*
    ST, incongruent CE1.9 ± 1.82.1 ± 1.82.0 ± 1.51.50.0790.90.195
    SAT, errors5.4 ± 3.86.4 ± 4.48.3 ± 6.92.40.017*−0.80.230
    CPT, CE0.7 ± 1.21.1 ± 1.73.0 ± 5.62.50.013*−2.20.020*
    CPT, omission errors0.1 ± 0.30.9 ± 1.91.8 ± 4.61.40.087−1.10.140
Executive function100.5 ± 17.9100.9 ± 17.991.9 ± 28.9−1.20.1181.50.082
    SAT, correct55.5 ± 9.056.6 ± 8.452.9 ± 12.4−0.80.2261.30.110
    SAT, errors5.4 ± 3.86.4 ± 4.48.3 ± 6.92.40.017*−0.80.230
Cognitive flexibility98.8 ± 18.298.9 ± 19.388.9 ± 31.7−1.40.0921.60.072
    SAT, correct55.5 ± 9.056.6 ± 8.452.9 ± 12.4−0.80.2261.30.110
    SAT, errors5.4 ± 3.86.4 ± 4.48.3 ± 6.92.40.017*−0.80.230
    ST, incongruent CE1.9 ± 1.82.1 ± 1.82.0 ± 1.51.50.0790.90.195
Neurocognitive index104.2 ± 10.699.7 ± 14.392.2 ± 23.0−2.20.022*1.60.071
    Composite memory106.0 ± 13.197.8 ± 21.296.1 ± 16.7−2.10.029*0.30.400
    Psychomotor speed118.8 ± 18.5114.5 ± 23.0112.0 ± 22.9−2.00.033*0.60.279
    Reaction time103.2 ± 10.6100.7 ± 12.698.9 ± 13.8−0.70.2590.40.332
    Complex attention93.7 ± 16.886.4 ± 22.770.7 ± 51.5−2.00.031*1.80.049*
    Cognitive flexibility98.8 ± 18.298.9 ± 19.388.9 ± 31.7−1.40.0921.60.072
  • A range of composite domain (italic type) and standard neurophysiological scores were reduced by hypoxia during PLA (effect of hypoxia). CrM standard scores tended to be higher during hypoxia than PLA (effect of supplementation), suggesting that these processes were robust to the effects of hypoxia. Note that for standard neurophysiological scores, higher error scores indicate worse performance, and higher correct response scores indicate better performance. For composite domain scores, higher scores indicate better performance. The alertness rating was measured using a six-point rating scale and was reduced with hypoxia and not corrected by CrM. ST, Stroop test; SAT, shifting attention test; CPT, continuous performance test; CE, commission errors. Descriptive data are mean ± SD.

  • aComparisons with baseline used one-sample t tests of normalized PLA scores compared to baseline (0) to assess the effects of hypoxia.

  • bBetween-treatment comparisons used paired t tests of normalized scores for CrM compared to PLA to assess the effects of supplementation.

  • *p < 0.05;

  • p ≥ 0.05 and <0.1. Bold type highlights statistically significant comparisons.