How High-Altitude Affects Cognitive Functions

The EEG (Electroencephalogram) can be used as a method to study high-altitude sickness and its influence on the body condition and health of mountaineers. By measuring changes in the beta band following a movement task, information about how acclimatized a person is to the change in altitude can be discerned. Combining this information with other measures such as heart rate and heart rate variability provides a more complete understanding of the condition of mountaineers. We talked with Christoph Guger, CEO of g.tec medical engineering and passionate mountaineer, about his experiences with altitude studies using BCI technology.