Effects of acclimatisation to altitude on learning

Long-term exposure to high altitude has been reported to impair cognitive functions,
possibly resulting in an increased risk of mountain accidents. To assess the modification of
cognitive functions during acclimatisation to altitude, 17 climbers were studied at 5350 m
a.s.l. by means of a neuropsychological learning test. The results clearly show that by
extending the period spent at elevations above 5350 m to more than 15 days, the response
to a memory task was significantly enhanced. The improvements resulting from
acclimatisation were more evident in the organisation of information than in information
storage. We suggest that inappropriate acclimatisation has a detrimental effect on cognitive
functions and the resulting impairment may particularly affect the more demanding technical
tasks.