Previous studies have demonstrated that hypoxia significantly impaired brain function, but the mechanism was still not clear. This study applied the audio-visual reaction test which reflected the function of hand-eyes coordination to explain the pathway of information processing that affected under hypoxia situation. Eight male Everest expedition climbers (EC) and 8 male college students (CS) were recruited. Two groups of subjects and 4 different oxygen concentration: 20.9%, 16%, 13% and 10% were designed to simulate high altitude hypoxia. Four reaction time tests were conducted: single visual reaction (SVR), single audio reaction (SAR) multiple visual reaction (MVR), and multiple audio reaction (MAR).- Reaction time was recorded for further analysis. Results revealed that ( I ) reaction time postponed gradually as O2 concentration decreased in CS group and a significant difference (p<.05) between 20.9% O2 and 10% O2 was noted in SVR (180+19.4ms vs.l98_24.8ms), (2) reaction time in EC group did not postpone according to acute hypoxia (p>.05) and (3) EC group had significant longer reaction time in nomoxia conditions than CS group (p<.05), especially at SVR (180+/-19.4ms vs. 230+/-36.0ms) and MAR (482+/-84.0ms vs. 575+/-130.0ms). The results indicated that long term hypoxia had significant adverse effect on brain function in normoxia situation, but chronic hypoxia adaptation could prevent the influence of acute hypoxia on information processing.
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