Objectives To investigate the impact of the first time plateau experience on soldiers' cognitive function. Methods The computer neuropsychological tests were carried out on 20 soldiers who stationed and trained at 4 500 m above the sea level for the first time（ acute plateau group） and 20 soldiers who stationed at 200 m above the sea level（ low-altitude group）. The tests included language memory， visual memory， finger tapping， symbolic digital coding， Stroop test， displacement attention test and continuous performance test. Based on correct responses， error responses， the number of responses and reaction time， the computer generates indicators that reflect military cognitive functions and can be used for statistical analysis， such as complex memory， speech memory， visual memory， psychomotor speed， reaction time， complex attention， cognitive flexibility， processing speed， executive function， simple attention， fine motor speed， and overall neurocognitive index. Results Compared with the low-altitude group， the scores of all neurocognitive fields in the acute plateau group were significantly reduced， and the overall neurocognitive index， complex memory， speech memory， psychomotor speed， reaction time， processing speed， and executive function were statistically different（ P＜0.05）. The overall neurocognitive index， reaction time， processing speed， executive function and positive oxygen saturation were positively correlated. Conclusions The exposure to acute highaltitude hypobaric hypoxia can lower a few aspects of neuropsychological performance， which is equivalent to the impaired cognitive function caused by mild brain injury.