Persisting effects of minor head injury observable during hypoxic stress

Abstract Ten university students who had recovered from minor head injury between one and three years previously were given vigilance and memory tests at a simulated altitude of 3,800 metres. Their performance was significantly below that of a matched group of students who had never had a head injury. The finding supports the proposition that even minor head injury has persisting effects, though they may be subtle and only emerge under the effects of stress.