UDC

611.81

DOI

10.37482/2687-1491-Z264

Authors

Viktor P. Mal’tsev* ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2453-6585
Alena A. Govorukhina* ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7466-2918
O’lga G. Litovchenko* ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8368-2590
*Surgut State University (Surgut, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug – Yugra, Russia)

Corresponding author: Viktor Mal’tsev, address: prosp. Lenina 1, Surgut, 628400, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug – Yugra, Russia; e-mail: mal585@mail.ru

Abstract

Studying the functional state of students is important to assess their adaptive potential in the educational process. The purpose of this article was to examine the neurodynamic characteristics and neuroautonomic regulation in northern students with different levels of the functional state of the central nervous system (CNS). Materials and methods. The research involved 416 humanities students (341 female and 75 male), mean age 19.4±1.4 years, attending Surgut State Pedagogical University. The total sample was divided into four groups according to the level of the functional state of the CNS: high (n = 118), medium (n = 170), slightly reduced (n = 65) and reduced (n = 63) level. In each group, we evaluated the neurodynamic characteristics of simple visual-motor reaction (SVMR), choice reaction and interference immunity using NS-Psychotest system (Neurosoft, Russia) as well as temporal and spectral parameters of heart rate variability (HRV) at rest using VNS-Micro electrocardiograph (Neurosoft, Russia). Results. The prevalence of individuals with medium and high level of the functional state of the CNS (69.3 %) in the sample indicates a relatively favourable functioning of the CNS in the examined students. We identified a statistically significant (p < 0.001) increase in reaction time in the SVMR (by 25.6 %), choice reaction (by 13.7 %) and interference immunity (by 11 %) tests in the group with reduced level of the functional state of the CNS. HRV analysis showed a five-fold drop (p < 0.001) in the total power as well as an increase in the stress index by the factor of 4.4 and in the mode amplitude by 2/3 (p < 0.001), which indicates a strengthening of the central mechanisms of regulation and a shift in the autonomic balance towards sympathetic activity with a decrease in the functional state of the CNS.

Keywords

functional state of the CNS, sensorimotor reactions, neurodynamics, heart rate variability, neuroautonomic regulation, university students, adaptive potential

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