Frontal cortical oxygenation changes during gravity-induced loss of consciousness in humans: a near-infrared spatially resolved spectroscopic study

J Appl Physiol (1985). 2007 Oct;103(4):1326-31. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.01191.2006. Epub 2007 Jul 19.

Abstract

Gravity (G)-induced loss of consciousness (G-LOC), which is presumably caused by a reduction of cerebral blood flow resulting in a decreased oxygen supply to the brain, is a major threat to pilots of high-performance fighter aircraft. The application of cerebral near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to monitor gravity-induced cerebral oxygenation debt has generated concern over potential sources of extracranial contamination. The recently developed NIR spatially resolved spectroscopy (SRS-NIRS) has been confirmed to provide frontal cortical tissue hemoglobin saturation [tissue oxygenation index (TOI)]. In this study, we monitored the TOI and the standard NIRS measured chromophore concentration changes of oxygenated hemoglobin and deoxygenated hemoglobin in 141 healthy male pilots during various levels of +G(z) (head-to-foot inertial forces) exposure to identify the differences between subjects who lose consciousness and those who do not during high +G(z) exposure. Subjects were exposed to seven centrifuge profiles, with +G(z) levels from 4 to 8 G(z) and an onset rate from 0.1 to 6.0 G(z)/s. The SRS-NIRS revealed an approximately 15% decrease in the TOI in G-LOC. The present study also demonstrated the TOI to be a useful variable to evaluate the effect of the anti-G protection system. However, there was no significant difference found between conditions with and without G-LOC in subjects with terminated G exposure. Further studies that elucidate the mechanism(s) behind the wide variety of individual differences may be needed for a method of G-LOC prediction to be effectively realized.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aerospace Medicine
  • Aviation*
  • Frontal Lobe / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Hypergravity / adverse effects*
  • Male
  • Occupational Health
  • Oxygen / metabolism*
  • Oxyhemoglobins / metabolism
  • Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared / methods*
  • Unconsciousness / etiology*
  • Unconsciousness / metabolism

Substances

  • Oxyhemoglobins
  • Oxygen