What cognitive impairments can occur at a heart rate of 175 BPM?

At a heart rate of 175 beats per minute (BPM), the body is typically experiencing significant physiological stress, often linked to a high level of physical exertion or acute stress. In such states, the brain can become overwhelmed, leading to specific cognitive impairments.

One such impairment is auditory exclusion, which refers to the phenomenon where an individual may fail to hear critical sounds or verbal cues, often due to the prioritization of other sensory inputs necessary for survival and immediate action. Tunnel vision can also occur, where a person’s field of vision narrows, focusing primarily on what is directly in front of them. This response is a physiological characteristic where the brain, under stress, limits peripheral awareness to concentrate on potential threats or essential tasks.

These effects can significantly hinder performance in critical situations, such as law enforcement or emergency response scenarios. In contrast, heightened awareness and strong focus, improved problem-solving and reasoning, as well as lack of physical coordination, do not accurately capture the impact of such a high heart rate. In fact, cognitive performance often suffers under extreme physiological stress, making the identified impairments a more accurate reflection of the cognitive state at that level of heart rate.