Types of higher nervous activity

• Strong unbalanced agile - characterized by a strong irritable process and a lagging inhibitory process, therefore a representative of this type in difficult situations is easily susceptible to violations of GNI. Able to train and greatly improve inadequate inhibition. In accordance with the doctrine of temperaments - this is the choleric type.
• Strong balanced mobility - has equally strong excitation and inhibition processes with their good mobility, which provides high adaptive capabilities and stability in difficult life situations. In accordance with the theory of temperaments, it is a sanguine type.
• Strong balanced inert - with strong processes of excitation and inhibition and with their poor mobility, always having difficulty switching from one type of activity to another. In accordance with the doctrine of temperaments - this is a phlegmatic type.
• Weak unbalanced inert - characterized by weakness of both nervous processes - excitation and inhibition, poorly adapted to environmental conditions, susceptible to neurotic disorders. In accordance with the classification of temperaments - this is the melancholic type.

Higher forms of GNI - memory, attention, motivation and emotional-volitional sphere are the subject of the study of psychology. Modern physiology is still far from complete knowledge of the biological mechanisms of these processes. However, it is worth considering what is already known.

Physiological mechanisms of memory.

Memory is a complex of processes occurring in the PCU that provide for the accumulation, storage and reproduction of individual experience. The memory can be divided into three main components of the element - the process of recording information, the process of storage and the process of reproduction.

Memory Hypotheses:

1. Neuronal hypothesis– the processes of memorization and storage are associated with the circulation of a pulse through closed neuron circuits. This mechanism probably underlies short-term memory. Good memory is characterized by a wealth of synaptic connections of the brain.

2. Biochemical hypothesis - impulses change metabolism in neurons, which causes structural changes in RNA. It is stored until the desired moment, then causing the excitation of neurons (long-term memory).

Most likely both mechanisms form a single whole.

The physiology of attention. Higher nervous and mental activity of a person is always characterized by a certain selectivity and focus. For GNI, it is important to maintain the focus of its activities on essential elements while distracting from all that is of little importance. This selectivity of processes is called attention.

The physiological basis of attention is the processes of excitation and inhibition, especially their movement and interaction in the PCU. Orientation is always associated with the excitation of some cortical areas and the inhibition of others (according to induction). Among the excited zones, the PCU always stands out dominant - according to the dominant theory. In this way, the selectivity of our activity is ensured and its control is exercised.

The mechanism of attention is based on the activation of the GM associated with the activity of the frontal lobes of the PCU.

The physiology of emotions.

Emotions (emovere– shake, excite) - subjective reactions of a person to the effects of internal and external stimuli, manifested in the form of positive or negative manifestations.

Emotions are the active states of specialized brain structures that cause a person to weaken or strengthen these states. The nature of emotions is determined by the actual need and the prediction of the probability of its satisfaction. Low probability of satisfying needs makes emotions negative (fear, rage, etc.); An increase in the probability of satisfaction as compared with the earlier available forecast gives emotions a positive color (pleasure, joy, etc.).

The brain structures responsible for the realization of the lower elementary emotions are located in the intermediate brain (hypothalamus) and in the ancient parts of the big hemispheres - fear, aggression, hunger and thirst, satiety and many others. Higher specifically human (cortical) emotions are associated with the activities of the CBP zones - for example, the moral feelings of a person.

Emotion plays a crucial role in the learning process, in reinforcing the newly formed conditioned reflexes. They change perception thresholds, activate memory, serve as an additional means of communication (facial expressions, voice intonation, etc.). The desire to re-experience positive emotions encourages a person to actively seek unsatisfied emotions and new ways to satisfy them. Negative emotions serve self-preservation, positive ones contribute to self-development in the process of mastering new fields of activity.

Physiology of motivation.

These are active states of brain structures that induce a person to perform acts of behavior aimed at meeting their needs. Motivations make behavior purposeful, orienting it either hereditarily (unconditioned reflexes), or due to the accumulated earlier conditioned-reflex experience.

Biochemical changes (in violation of homeostasis) and external stimuli are transformed into the process of excitation, this activates the structure of the hypothalamus. It transmits a signal to the PCU, where a program of behavior is formed, which helps to meet the relevant needs.

Although the selected three parameters of the nervous system give 2 ³ = 8 different combinations, Pavlov believed that consideration of all their practical application does not have. In his opinion, there is no sense to consider equilibrium in an object with a weak nervous system, and mobility in types with a strong and unbalanced one.

A further contribution to the study of the properties of the nervous system was made by Boris Mikhailovich Teplov and Vladimir Dmitrievich Nebylitsyn .

• Higher nervous activity
• Temperament
• Character