Effects of Acute Intermittent Hypoxia on Sensory Function in Healthy Adults

Despite the strong results of motor studies, the affects of AIH on sensory function has not been established. We will use a commercially-available hypoxicator that can be programmed to achieve a targeted level of arterial oxygen saturation. We plan to compare 3 previously published protocols that have generated motor facilitation (and a sham condition) to characterize and effects on sensory function in healthy adults.

Inclusion criteria

• 18 to 40 years of age

Exclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of cardiovascular disease (Hypertension, arrhythmias, coronary artery disease, congenital and valvar heart diseases)
• Diagnosis of neuromuscular disease
• Diagnosis of any neurological disease
• Presence of concurrent medical illness including infection, fractures
• Diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea
• Diagnosis of obstructive/restrictive lung disease
• Diagnosis of exercise induced asthma
• FEV1/FVC<80% and/or FVC<80% of predicted value indicating airway obstruction
• Subjects on prednisolone therapy or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) therapy will be excluded from the study as these pharmacological agents are known to amplify the effects of IH[22, 23]
• Diagnosis of epilepsy or history of seizures and attention deficit disorders
• Pregnancy
• Diabetes
• History of coagulation disorders
• History of chronic pain
• Body mass index(BMI)> 35kg/m2
• Subjects on prescription medicines such as beta blockers and other drugs that are prescribed in any of the exclusionary disorders listed above.