NEUROBIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES OF VISUAL WORKING MEMORY FUNCTIONING IN RADAR STATION OPERATORS
O.I. Podkovka, M.Y. Makarchuk, N.B. Filimonova, I.V. Pampuha, Ye.V. Varzhanska
ESC “Institute of Biology and Medicine” of Taras
Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15407/fz69.06.022
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Abstract
Operators are often subjected to a high working memory
load as far as any possibly useful information must always
be available and presented to the operator. Thus, we assumed
that they may have developed adaptations in mechanisms of
working memory realization that help them to be more efficient
in information overload conditions. Our aim was to define differences in visual working memory functioning in radar station
operators (RSO) and other military profession representatives.
For this purpose, in parallel with the performance of original
computer tests for the visual working memory identification,
which had two levels of complexity, we recorded an electroencephalogram with subsequent coherent and LORETA analysis
and electrocardiogram with subsequent determining of stress
index of the regulatory systems. It was found that reaction
time, as well as the number of errors in both tests, didn`t differ
significantly for the two groups. At the same time, the control
group had a significantly higher number of θ-band coherent
connections in the frontal lobe in both tests, which could indicate a higher level of mental stress and emotional involvement.
This assumption was confirmed by the stress index dynamic
in the control group. LORETA analysis showed that in the
RSO group, the degree of fronto-parietal, cingulo-opercular
networks, cuneus and precuneus involvement was at a high
level from the very first tasks, while in the control group, it
increased with task complexity, that is the evidence of adaptive
changes in the working memory of RSO, due to which they
successfully cope with information overload.
Keywords:
working memory; coherence; neural networks; electroencephalogram; autonomic regulation; information processing; professional selection; variation pulsometry; LORETA.
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