High-altitude adaptation strategies: active integration of higher-order cognitive processes by indigenous residents to overcome altitude-induced constraints in visual cognition

Abstract

This study explores the influence of indigenous residents at high altitudes on visuospatial cognitive functions, particularly focusing on mental rotation abilities among different populations. The study adopts a comprehensive methodological framework that combines behavioral assessments with advanced neuroimaging techniques. Data collection involves administering mental rotation task to the participants, followed by analyzing their behavioral responses. The behavioral results showed that immigrants to high altitudes had slower rotation response times compared to lowland residents, whereas indigenous residents demonstrated comparable response speeds but with higher error rates. Neurophysiological findings indicated significant altitude-associated variations in neural activity. Notably, differences were observed in the P3 and RRN component amplitudes between highland and lowland residents. Both immigrant and indigenous groups exhibited increased alpha and beta band activity during mental rotation task. Critically, indigenous residents exhibited distinct P1 amplitude profiles accompanied by unique orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) recruitment during visuospatial processing—an integrated neural pattern reflecting the embedding of higher-order cognitive evaluations and motivational processes into basic visual processing. This population-specific adaptation represents a key neurophysiological mechanism to overcome high-altitude cognitive demands, signifying environmental-driven reconfiguration of cortical hierarchies. These results not only broaden our understanding of environmental influences on cognitive function but also shed light on the adaptive capacities of human populations residing in extreme conditions.