Stamenova V, et al. - Researchers aimed at determining the effects of brief hypoxia (<7 min) due to cardiac arrest on the integrity of the brain and performance on memory and executive functions tasks. Findings revealed that compared to matched controls with myocardial infarction, chronic patients with cardiac arrest who were discharged from hospital in “good neurological condition” had an average of 10% reduction in hippocampal volume bilaterally and significant verbal memory deficits. This suggested that even brief hypoxic periods suffice to lead to specific hippocampal damage.