Time Synthesis in Organization of Sensorimotor Action

Time synthesis of sensorimotor action is reviewed as a process of a coherence setting action duration (expected duration), time sequence of required operations and significant changes in conditions. Aim: to experimentally set up the connection of time synthesis success and efficiency of realization sensorimotor action in changeable conditions. Hypothesis: successful time synthesis of the setting duration and the temporal sequence of operations in the mental organization of sensorimotor action in changing conditions is realized in accordance with the corresponding operational meaning and is allowed by anticipatory effects and an increase in the effectiveness of the action, materials and methods. An experimental study involved 152 male and female students. Participants of the investigation solved experimental tasks, implemented in a computer version, according to schemes of a simple visual-motor reaction and a choice reaction (separately and in combination), according to a scheme of sensorimotor action with a warning signal when the apperceptive scheme, setting duration and sequence of required operations were changed promptly. Results were reviewed in the aspect of disclosing the features of the subject's elimination of the uncertainty of the moment of achieving the goal in the future and the construction of a sequence of operations of sensorimotor actions in a connection with changes in external conditions, typical for the time deficit regime. The conditionality of the time synthesis of sensorimotor action by the actual operational meaning was established revealing that the successful temporal synthesis of sensorimotor action in changing conditions is associated with the fastest acceptance of an adequate apperceptive scheme, with effective anticipation of the moment of achieving the goal and the formation of a detailed setting duration of action, with the formation of a temporal sequence of required operations. Conclusions. The levels of success of the time synthesis of sensorimotor action in changing conditions are highlighted: “quite successful; moderately successful; unsuccessful.”

THE INFLUENCE OF DEPENDENCES OF PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF DRIVERS

The article analyzes the "man-machine-environment" system in relation to the psychophysiological characteristics of the driver - "human operator". The methods of diagnosing the psychophysiological characteristics of drivers were analyzed. The dependencies between the parameters of psychophysiological characteristics were established: complex visual-motor reaction and emotional stability (Pearson correlation coefficient r = -0.7), as well as the correlation between emotional stability and the level of perception of speed and distance (r = 0.5). The psychophysiological characteristics at different stages of the driving experience were revealed and practical recommendations were formulated for their development.

Choline intake effects on psychophysiological indicators of students in the pre-exam period

Introduction. Choline has a wide range of physiological functions. It has a neuroprotective effect on brain dysfunctions, while its deficiency has a negative effect on antenatal development of the nervous system. We aimed to study the impact of exogenous choline on the psychophysiological indicators in students. Study objects and methods. 87 students were surveyed by questionnaire to determine their background intake of dietary choline. One month before the exams, we measured their simple and complex visual-motor reaction times, functional mobility and balance of nervous processes, as well as indicators of their short-term memory, attention, health, activity, and mood. Then, we divided the students into a control and an experimental group, regardless of their choline intake. The experimental group took 700 mg choline supplements on a daily basis for one month, followed by a second psychophysiological examination. Results and discussion. Students with a low choline intake had lower functional mobility and balance of nervous processes, but better attention stability than students with a high choline intake. The second examination showed improved short-term memory, health, and activity indicators in the experimental group, compared to the control. The visual-motor reaction times also increased, but only in students with an initially low level of choline intake. Conclusion. Choline supplementation can be recommended to students under pre-exam stress to enhance the functional state of their central nervous system.

Motor Reaction Times as an Embedded Measure of Performance Validity: a Study with a Sample of Austrian Early Retirement Claimants

Among embedded measures of performance validity, reaction time parameters appear to be less common. However, their potential may be underestimated. In the German-speaking countries, reaction time is often examined using the Alertness subtest of the Test of Attention Performance (TAP). Several previous studies have examined its suitability for validity assessment. The current study was conceived to examine a variety of reaction time parameters of the TAP Alertness subtest with a sample of 266 Austrian civil forensic patients. Classification results from the Word Memory Test (WMT) were used as an external indicator to distinguish between valid and invalid symptom presentations. Results demonstrated that the WMT fail group performed worse in reaction time as well as its intraindividual variation across trials when compared to the WMT pass group. Receiver operating characteristic analyses revealed areas under the curve of .775–.804. Logistic regression models indicated the parameter intraindividual variation of motor reaction time with warning sound as being the best predictor for invalid test performance. Suggested cut scores yielded a sensitivity of .62 and a specificity of .90, or .45 and .95, respectively, when the accepted false-positive rate was set lower. The results encourage the use of the Alertness subtest as an embedded measure of performance validity.

MOTOR REACTIONS OF INFANTS IN RESPONSE TO OPTICAL FLOW – LITERATURE REVIEW

Introduction Eyesight is crucial for each child to achieve the stages of gross and fine motor development. One of the essential processes during movement is the effect of optical flow on the organ of vision and its influence on the performance of the movement. The phenomenon of optical flow is ubiquitous in everyday activities, and it is still not fully understood how it triggers a reaction. Aim The article is a presentation and summary of the research methodology of various research teams studying the influence of the optical flow on motor reactions in infants. Material and methods Review of publications searched using keywords (optical flow, motor reaction, reflexes, newborn, infant) in databases such as PubMed and ScienceDirect. The methods and conditions presented by various authors are summarized in one table. Results and conclusions Optical flow studies and the influence on motor reactions differ significantly in methodology and study groups, making it impossible to compare the results between all found publications. Most cited studies have shown that optical flow can induce or intensify a motor response in infants. Keywords: newborn, optical flow

Features of Functioning of the Central Nervous System of the Residents of Moscow and Moscow Region

The study focuses on the lability and adaptability of the central nervous system of residents of Moscow and Moscow region aged 65 and older. All examinees regularly practised various types of physical activity, such as Nordic walking, cycling, Qigong gymnastics, etc. The functional state of the central nervous system of the examinees was studied using the Psychophysiologist hardware-software system by determining simple visual-motor reaction (SVMR), complex visual-motor reaction (CVMR), reaction to a moving object (RMO). Based on the analysis of speed and stability of sensorimotor reactions in response to light stimuli and moving object we made an express-evaluation of the level of functional state of the central nervous system, sensorimotor reactions, quality of activity, balance of inhibition and excitation processes. As a result of the study, the optimal level of CNS functioning was registered in most of the examinees. Activation of the central nervous system in the majority of the examinees is at an average level, the average level of operative efficiency is noted. The results of the study indicate a shift in the balance of nervous processes in the examinees towards inhibition.