After all this time, it turns out Michael Jackson was right 
But the effects are more than reversed by propofol. Death of Michael Jackson - Wikipedia
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Continuous exposure to a high partial pressure of O2 is toxic.
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Danny
#23
The study is interesting, and so I looked into intermittent hypoxic training, however there is reason to be hesitant. Studies have found that people who spend a long time (3 months) at high elevation (Lower oxygen levels) have an impact on their cognitive abilities. This is due to a process called âacclimatizationâ where the brain adapts to a lower oxygen environment. Also, at more extreme elevations even short forays can affect certain cognitive indicators.
The Effect of Altitude on Cognitive Performance and Mood States - Nutritional Needs In Cold And In High-Altitude Environments - NCBI Bookshelf).
https://www.nature.com/articles/srep04443
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What is interesting about Oxygen partial pressures is that although Oxygen is transported normally via haemoglobin (if the partial pressure of Oxygen is high enough it can be simply dissolved in the water in serum), the partial pressure at the mitochondria is driven by the partial pressure in the lungs.
Hence changing the partial pressure in the air that is being breathed affects directly that hitting the mitochondria. Hence they produce more energy with a higher partial pressure, but also generate more ROS. AIUI it is the drop back in ROS which signals the reduction in partial pressure which stimulates the HIF transcription factors.
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Whatâs the effect of low partial pressure? Lower ROS? But what else? Why would there be a resulting permanent brain function decline? With athletic training, always training at high altitude results in submaximal training intensity which leads to less fitness. (Sleep high; train low is better)
So is brain function worsened by a lack of stimulus or by some damage (like, cell death from low oxygen)?
If there is less energy (less ATP) one would assume that would impact lots of things.
I have tended to concentrate on the aspects that link to the Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF).
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Iâll have to look up HIF
Regarding low oxygen I wonder why the brain doesnât just increase breathing rate to compensate? Perhaps the answer is it does but only up to a level of altitude that is within the evolutionary range. The issues with low oxygen only show up above 8000 feet which must cover almost every circumstance.
You cannot increase the concentration of Oxygen simply by increasing breathing. You can replace slightly depleted air, but it does not get that depleted anyway.
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I mean breathe faster to collect more molecules of O2. I do this whenever I exercise.
Yes, but the partial pressure tends not to change that much.
inhaled air contains 21% O2 while exhaled breath contains approximately 16% O2 and 5% CO2.
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