To the study of higher nervous activity in schizophrenia in children

The current state of the theory of conditioned reflexes dictates the necessity of introducing a physiological method for studying higher "nervous activity" into the everyday life of clinical research.

PAVLIV SESSION CONTINUES: ANNIVERSARY OF SEVEN DECADES FOR PSYCHOLOGY

Seven decades have passed since the "Scientific Session on the Problems of the Physiological Teachings of Academician IP Pavlov" from June 28 to July 4, 1950. Its main direction was the assertion of the leading role of the cerebral cortex with the subordination of all physiological processes reflected in the conditioned reflexes defined by IP Pavlov. JV Stalin's interference in the session is reflected in his comment: "In my opinion, the greatest damage to Pavlov's teachings was caused by Academician Orbeli… The sooner Orbeli is exposed and the more thoroughly his monopoly is eliminated, the better. Beritov and Stern are not so dangerous, because they oppose Pavlov openly and thus facilitate the reprisal of science over these artisan artisans… Now something about the tactics of combating opponents of the theory of Academician Pavlov.

Human as the cybernetic system

Предложены авторские трактовки понятий «человек» (как высокоразвитая кибернетическая система (биоробот), которая функционирует на основании определенных программ (врожденных и сформированных в процессе жизни), «кибернетическая антропология» (как наука, рассматривающая человека как компьютеризированную систему управления, которая функционирует на основании определенных программ), «психопрограммистика» (как отрасль кибернетической антропологии, изучающая врожденные программы человека, которые определяют мышление и поведение последнего). Раскрывается структура человека как биоробота, основными элементами которой являются: 1) Органическая машина (объект управления); 2) Управляющий орган (субъект управления); 3) Устройство «прямой связи»; 4) Устройство «обратной связи». Выявляются основные элементы Управляющего органа человека как биоробота: 1) Совершенный компьютер; 2) Персональный компьютер; 3) Сенсор (Душа). Предложены авторские трактовки понятий «чувства» и «эмоции» с позиции кибернетической антропологии. Раскрываются основные элементы программ, которые лежат в основе безусловных и условных рефлексов. The author's interpretations of the concepts of “human” are proposed as a highly developed cybernetic system (biorobot), which functions on the basis of certain programs (innate and formed in the process of life); “Cybernetic anthropology” as a science that considers a person as a computerized control system that functions on the basis of certain programs, as well as “psychoprogramming” as a branch of cybernetic anthropology, which studies the innate programs of a person that determine the thinking and behavior of the latter. The structure of a person as a biorobot is revealed, the main elements of which are: 1) Organic machine (control object); 2) Managing body (subject of management); 3) "Direct communication" device; 4) Device "feedback". The main elements of the Managing body of a person as a biorobot are revealed: 1) Perfect computer; 2) Personal computer; 3) Sensor (Soul). The author's interpretations of the concepts of "feelings" and "emotions" from the standpoint of cybernetic anthropology are proposed. The main elements of programs underlying unconditioned and conditioned reflexes are revealed.

The Arzew Camp

The chapter examines the success of the forms of psychological warfare deployed during Opération Pilote. A key element of Servier’s plan was to recruit peasants to undertake a crash training programme in the COIN centre at Arzew, so that they could be secretly reinserted in the douars to act as future political leaders. The first cohort proved to be of mediocre ability, and their placement in the douars, known to the FLN, proved to be perilous. The army turned to other techniques of mass brainwashing of the rural population, who were either subjected to propaganda teams or, at Warnier in the Chelif, placed in ‘re-education’ camps. Anthropology, promoted by Servier, was marginalized since army officers could not be rapidly trained in the necessary language and ethnology skills, and instead the army relied on behaviourist theories of conditioned reflexes and mechanical forms of mass indoctrination by repetition of slogans. The prefect, and some officers, were deeply scathing of the impacts of such brainwashing techniques. By August 1957 Opération Pilote was wound down but, despite its major failure, was promoted by top commanders as a great success, and was rapidly expanded across Algeria. The claims made for the experiment were supported by dubious forms of psychological mapping that claimed to plot the success of ‘pacification’.

Naum Efimovich Ischlondsky: a forgotten protagonist of the concept of reflexology

The present article reports on the life and work of a protagonist of the concept of reflexology. While the concept itself has its roots in Russia, in Ivan Petrovich Pavlov’s research on conditioned reflexes, and was then shaped to a large extent by Vladimir Mikhailovich Bekhterev, the contributions of Naum Efimovich Ischlondsky (Ishlondsky) have been largely forgotten. Moreover, he developed this concept throughout his life up to the 1960s, by which time he was living in the USA. In contrast, in the Soviet Union, the concepts of reflexology based on the work of Bechterev and his followers had already been abandoned by the 1930s for largely political reasons.

Dopamine and Addiction

Addiction is commonly identified with habitual nonmedical self-administration of drugs. It is usually defined by characteristics of intoxication or by characteristics of withdrawal symptoms. Such addictions can also be defined in terms of the brain mechanisms they activate; most addictive drugs cause elevations in extracellular levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Animals unable to synthesize or use dopamine lack the conditioned reflexes discussed by Pavlov or the appetitive behavior discussed by Craig; they have only unconditioned consummatory reflexes. Burst discharges (phasic firing) of dopamine-containing neurons are necessary to establish long-term memories associating predictive stimuli with rewards and punishers. Independent discharges of dopamine neurons (tonic or pacemaker firing) determine the motivation to respond to such cues. As a result of habitual intake of addictive drugs, dopamine receptors expressed in the brain are decreased, thereby reducing interest in activities not already stamped in by habitual rewards.

Pavlov, Penfield, and the physiology of the mind

Wilder Penfield's contributions to the structure–function relationships of the brain are well-known. Less well-known is the influence that Ivan Pavlov and the conditioned reflex had on Penfield's understanding of epileptogenesis, and on his concept of the acquisition of memories, language, and perception—what Penfield referred to as the physiology of the mind. Penfield invoked conditioned reflexes to explain responses to electrocortical stimulation of the temporal lobes that encompass memory, perception, and affect. Penfield referred to these responses as experiential phenomena since he considered that they constituted a record of past experiences. Penfield also invoked the conditioned reflex to explain the acquisition of the interpretive aspects of written and spoken language in the dominant temporal cortex. This article describes and discusses these neglected aspects of Penfield's work, and how they contributed to a broader understanding of the functional integration of the temporal cortex and the limbic system.