Neuropsychological Effects of Hypoxia in Medical Disorders

1 local terms. It is generally due to a more speci c restriction in blood supply (and therefore oxygen supply) to a speci c organ. Hypoxemia, a term commonly confused with hypoxia, refers to an ab de ciency in the concentration of oxygen in arterial blood. Anoxia refers to the complete deprivation of oxygen supply. Finally, hypercapnia is an associated state marked by an ably high level of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the blood. Hypercapnia can be the result of a variety of causes such as hypoventilation, lung disease, or diminished consciousness. Hypercapnia is less o& en the focus of cognitive studies, but it is associated with hypoxia and may be a more sensitive variable in some clinical populations. ' is chapter focuses on hypoxia and hypoxemia, using the de nition that best ts the study in question, but each term is employed to refer to a limitation in oxygen supply to the brain.