Stability of analytic-Holistic Cognitive Style under Simulated Normobaric Hypoxia

The experimental study is dedicated to testing the hypothesis of the stability of cognitive style indicators, namely “analytic” and “holistic”, under conditions of moderate exogenous normobaric hypoxia, which serves as a model of biological stress. The study involved 32 individuals (22 women and 10 men) aged 18 to 30 years without chronic diseases. Participants completed the Analytic-Holistic (AH) questionnaire under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. The hypoxic phase was considered correctly completed if the questionnaire was filled out while blood saturation was in the range of 80–90% (on average 83–84%) during the administration of a gas mixture with a reduced oxygen concentration (FiO₂ = 0.11). Levels of trait (TA) and state anxiety (SA) were evaluated, along with cardiodynamic parameters before and after simulating a 10-minute period of breathing either normoxic or hypoxic gas mixtures (ReOxy device, AI Media S.A., Luxembourg). The interval between the normoxic and hypoxic phases averaged 30 days. Formation of the analyst and holist groups was performed retrospectively by dividing the sample according to the median distribution of the overall AH questionnaire scores obtained during the normoxic phase. Overall AH scores did not change when tested under hypoxic conditions relative to normoxic conditions. However, among the holists, there was a significant decrease in scores on the “focus of attention” subscale and a more pronounced increase in scores on the “causal attribution” subscale compared to analysts, reflecting some reduction in conscious attentional focus and an expansion of the subjective interpretation of individual events. A decrease in SA was noted in all groups of subjects in the post-hypoxic period without substantial dynamics in cardiommodynamic parameters. The analytic-holistic cognitive style is a fundamental characteristic of an individual and remains stable under conditions of moderate hypoxic stress. The changes observed in certain subscales among the holists are determined by the negative effect of hypoxia on the executive functions of the brain, and for clarification require further application of functional neuroimaging methods. The positive post-hypoxic dynamics of SA levels in both analysts and holists may be associated with the development of hormesis – a mechanism of adaptation caused by a post-stressor increase in parasympathetic nervous system tone, improved psychoemotional state, and mood.

exogenous normobaric hypoxia, cognitive style, analysis, holism, stress, anxiety