FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-66/15

Title and Subtitle: Hypoxia and performance decrement.

Report Date: May 1966

Authors: O'Connor WF, Scow J, Pendergrass G.

Abstract: The concept of time of useful consciousness fails to take into account the progressive decay that occurs in performance under hypoxic conditions. This study, using a means of quantitatively assessing such a decrement, presents data obtained in a series of chamber runs at 27,500 and 35,000 feet. The performance-decrement functions appear to follow the arterial-oxygen-saturation curves.

Key Words: hypoxia, motor reactions, degradation, stress (physiology), performance (human), aviation medicine.

No. of Pages: 8