911³Ô¹Ï

Neuroimaging of the Brain During Hypoxia

The brain’s high oxygen demand makes hypoxia a critical concern for pilots, who are trained to recognize its symptoms using either altitude chambers (hypobaric hypoxia) or  hypoxic gas mixtures (normobaric hypoxia). Despite widespread use, it remains unclear whether these two approaches produce equivalent neurophysiological effects. In my previous work, I addressed this question using a multimodal physiological framework centered on electroencephalography (EEG). We found differences in neurophysiology between normobaric and hypobaric hypoxia and correlations between the EEG signal and physiological measures. Together, these findings show that EEG can differentiate between normobaric and hypobaric hypoxia, suggesting that these commonly used training methods are not neurophysiologically equivalent.  Building on this foundation, my future research will further investigate how varying levels and dynamics of hypoxia influence brain function. I am particularly interested in combining neuroimaging with multimodal physiological recordings to examine the effects of hypoxia at various severities and to characterize the often-overlooked desaturation phase, when oxygen saturation levels are actively declining. I am also interested in the autonomic nervous system and wish to find potential collaborators for work combining multimodal physiology recordings with brain imaging. Alongside my research interests, I am keen on mentoring and co-supervising students. In this talk, I will present my prior research on hypoxia, outline my future research directions, and discuss my goals for contributing to the department through collaboration, mentoring, and the co-supervision of students as an adjunct faculty member.