The aim of the study is to characterize a new information and telecommunication technology-event-related of the heart rate telemetry-for remote monitoring of cognitive functions and stress conditions in the context of everyday activity. Results. A new technology of event-related telemetry of the heart rate has been developed and characterized in terms of the cognitive function monitoring. The optimal architecture of this system provides for continuous monitoring of the patient's functional state in the context of sensorimotor activity while controlling the features of information images in the virtual computer environment. Errors in this control function are considered to objectively reflect the primary cognitive functions and sensorimotor coordination. The possibility of using such multilevel psychophysiological monitoring throughout the everyday life activity is discussed. Conclusion. A novel automated expert system-event-related telemetry-has been developed; this includes hardware, algorithmic and software Internet resources for detecting the early signs of stress and cognitive function impairment in the real time mode, without restricting person's mobility and without attracting his/her attention to the measurement process.
Simultaneous interpreting is one of the most comprehensive and energy-consuming types of cognitive activity. To work successfully, a simultaneous interpreter must have a specific functional state. The aim of our study was to find out the basic mechanisms of this functional state, the effect of the simultaneous interpreting on cognitive function changes, and the main factors influencing the degree of the regulatory systems strain. Materials and Methods. 33 individuals participated in the study: 22 linguists specially trained in simultaneous translation composed the experimental group and 11 language-qualified people having no skills of simultaneous translation represented the control group. In compliance with the study design, the measurements were performed under the conditions similar to the real work of simultaneous interpreters: the participants working in succession performed professional tasks: shadowing in the native and foreign languages (German and English), simultaneous interpretation of the reports from the native language to the foreign, and vice versa. The interpreters were psychologically tested using ApWay.ru Web platform before and after the performance on the professional tasks: computer campimetry, test for a simple sensorimotor activity, Stroop test, and test for emotional disadaptation level. Cardiointervalogram was telemetrically recorded during the entire experiment. Results. Some specific aspects of autonomic provision of simultaneous interpreting have been unraveled. A significantly greater tension of the autonomic regulation is manifested by the simultaneous interpreters compared to the control group. It was most prominent when translation was done from the foreign language. The total level of stress during the performance on the linguistic tasks appeared to be higher in the control group. In the simultaneous interpreters, in contrast to the control group, there was registered a high activity level of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems and a marked integration of the cardiac rhythm regulation circuits over the entire period of performing the linguistic tasks. The psychological tests have demonstrated a significantly more confident cognitive control relative to the control group. Thus, a specific functional system has been formed in the simultaneous interpreters providing a successful interaction of various information images (or codes) and consolidation of autonomic and cognitive resources during the performance on professional tasks. Lack of the necessary skills and, consequently, of the task-oriented functional system in the participants of the control group resulted in the enhancement of the non-specific (less effective) stress response.
Brain-computer interface and neurofeedback technologies are unique techniques to modulate brain activity based on an operant conditioning. From the time these technologies appeared in the 60-ies of the XX c., they have become non-drug tools for numerous psychiatric and neurologic disorders. However, up to now their efficiency is a matter of debate. Our review considers the background, characteristic features and current state of the technologies. The emphasis was made on the analysis of capabilities and prospects of the technologies in clinical medicine to mobilize the plasticity mechanisms of brain neural network. The review presents the findings of our own experiments showing the future of brain-computer interface and neurofeedback technologies to depend on multi-type cooperation of neurologists, neurobiologists, engineers and mathematicians. Effective consolidation of several fields of science will enable to develop novel therapeutic regimens to restore and improve neural, cognitive and behavioral functions.
The aim of the investigation was to compare efficacy of three variants of musical neurobiocontrol technology, involving transformation of the current values of the patient's EEG oscillators into music-like signals in correcting stress-induced functional state.Materials and Methods. 15 volunteers, being in the stress condition, were subject to three examinations. In the first one the examinees were presented music-like signals, resembling the sounds of a flute by its timbre, which were smoothly varying in pitch and intensity in direct relation to the current amplitude of the spectral component of EEG -EEG oscillator -dominating in the subject. In two other examinations the same transformations of EEG were supplemented by the introduction of musical elements: rhythm and beat. Objective (shifts of EEG-alpha rhythm intensity relative to the background) and subjective (results of all tests before and after the exposure) criteria of efficacy were used in the study.Results. Under the influence of therapeutic procedures the increase of EEG-alpha rhythm intensity against the background was noted, accompanied by the growth of health and mood indicators, reduction of emotional disadaptation degree and the level of stressedness in the examined persons. The most prominent effects were revealed when presented sound signals were structured, especially by introducing 1 Hz rhythm in them.Conclusion. Transformation of the current values of patient's EEG oscillators into music-like signals is supposed to be a perspective way of improving the efficacy of biocontrol procedures in correcting various functional disorders.
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