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Biomedical subjects

P V Simonov

Publications and source records attributed to P V Simonov.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

[Higher forms of brain activity and psychology].

On the examples of comparison of the evoked potentials with a theory of signal identification (A. M. Ivanitsky) and need-informational theory of emotions (P. V. Simonov) with the "general law of human emotions" (D. Price, J. Barrell) the efficiency is demonstrated of the simultaneous study of the higher brain functions by neurophysiological and psychological methods. Recent experimental data are given on the natural-scientific bases of consciousness. Human personality is considered as an individual unique composition and internal hierarchy of his vital, social and individual needs. Acknowledgement of the supplementary nature of the objective and subjective analysis of the human behavior helps eliminate the contradiction between the determinism and subjectively sensed freedom of choice.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Slow oscillations of psychophysiological parameters in human operators during monotony.

Objective estimation of the human operator's functional state is an urgent problem in applied psychophysiology. It helps to forecast the reliability and efficiency of the operator's activity. Slow (minute) changes in the functional state of 22 subjects were recorded and analysed in experiments simulating the long-term operator's activity. Spatial synchronization of the electroencephalogram (EEG) and the heart-rate (HR) served as parameters. It was shown that the time of detection and identification of visual signals (geometrical figures) amid visual "noise" in a long-term observation naturally depends on the changes in a subject's state. These changes were estimated by slow (2-3 min) components of the changes in spatial synchronization of EEG and HR throughout 3 h of the experiment. These objective parameters of the human operator's state may be used to predict efficiency. The connection between minute oscillations of electrophysiological parameters and time of reaction is absent during the first 30 min of the experiment, then appears and increases throughout further stages, becoming clearly marked in its second half.

Boredom↗
PubMed1985

Emotions and neurones.

It was shown previously (Simonov, 1964), that emotion is a function of need and that it estimates the probability (possibility) of its satisfaction. Changes in command neuronal activity of alimentary and defensive behaviour in response to food, showed to a hungry or replete Helix lucorum L., suggest a complex internal organization of the reaction to the external stimulus. Two types of neurones were revealed in the self-stimulation zones the rat hypothalamus, one of them being connected with motivational mechanism, the other with reinforcement. Thus, relative independence of motivations and emotions is also manifested at the neuronal level.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Blink reflex as a parameter of human operator's functional state.

Eyelid movements (EM)--blinking frequency and duration of closed eyes--may serve as a parameter of fatigue in humans performing as operators. Twenty subjects were told to locate and follow visual signals appearing on a screen at the frequency of 4-5 X h-1 and moving in a background of bright noises. EM was recorded in infra-red rays with tiny sensors attached to glasses' rim. EEG and ECG were recorded simultaneously. It was found that a change in EM is a sensitive parameter of fatigue and better corresponds to decreased quality of performance (time of locating signal and error in following), than changes in R-R interval. In the second experimental series, symptoms of fatigue discovered by EM were accompanied by sound signals, which improved operator's performance by 15-20%. Recording of EM may be used to monitor operator's state in humans and to forecast reliability of performance.

Achievement↗
PubMed1984

The need-informational theory of emotions.

As an evolvement of Pavlov ideas on higher nervous (psychic) activity 'the need-informational theory of emotions' was suggested by the author in 1964. According to it an emotion is a function of two major factors: (1) power and quality of actual need (or drive, or motivation) and (2) estimation of probability (possibility) of need satisfaction on the basis of phylo- and ontogenetic experience. In the process of experimental testing of 'the need-informational theory of emotions' the role of different cerebral structures (frontal neocortex, hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus) in the genesis of emotional states and in the organization of goal-directed behavior was elucidated. The experimental data showed that these 4 brain structures play the major role in estimation of signals coming from environment and in the choice of subject's reactions. The individual characteristics of the interaction between the 4 brain structures must be taken into consideration in discussing neurophysiological backgrounds of different types of the higher nervous activity (temperaments), parameters of extra-introversion and neurotism (emotionality), the formation of main types of neurosis.

Amygdala↗
PubMed1984

[Limbic structures of the brain and the pathogenesis of neuroses].

The understanding of the nature of neurosis as secondary to a chronic conflict of motivations intolerable for a given type of the nervous system has prompted the choice of experimental neurosis in rats in the form of switching heterogeneous conditional reflexes according to E.A. Asratyan. Bilateral hippocampectomy has been shown to eliminate the neurotic symptoms whereas following the bilateral destruction of the amygdala the conflict of motivations can be evaded only by facilitating the formation of the evidently predominant need. The consequences of neurotigenic impacts depend on the individual peculiarities of rats, which may be elicited by simulating Eysenck's parameters. A hypothesis is put forward according to which neurosis arises as a result of an impaired interaction between the frontal neocortex, hippocamp, amygdala, and hypothalamus. An important role is played by cerebral hypoxia resulting from chronic emotional stress.

Amygdala↗
PubMed1983

[The reinforcing function of emotions (80th anniversary of the birth of Esras Asratovich Asratian)].

Modelling of conditioning by means of direct stimulation of the rat sensomotor cortex and the self--stimulation results revealed the primary role of activation of the hypothalamic emotionally positive structures in formation of instrumental conditioned reflex or its cellular analogue. Based on the data obtained and on some literature data, a scheme is proposed for conditioned connection resulting from convergence of impulses coming from at least four sources: 1) the structures perceiving a conditioned signal; 2) the structures activated by an actual demand (for instance, the hunger excitation); 3) afferent stimuli arising under the effect of a factor capable of satisfying this demand; 4) the cerebral emotiongenic structures.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1981

Role of limbic structures in individual characteristics of behavior.

The dogs with more frequent hippocampal theta-rhythm develop transswitching of food and defensive instrumental conditioned reflexes more rapidly and easily. Bilateral destructions of frontal regions of the neocortex and hippocampus in rats increased their reactivity to the aversive stimuli (intensive light and sound) and simultaneously decreased their sensitivity to the signals of defensive excitation ill the other animal. Bilateral damages of lateral and ventromedial hypothalamus equally increased the reactivity of rats to sound, light and cry of the partner. Confrontation of these results with the data obtained previously and those available in literature leads to the conclusion that individual features in the relation of "information system" (frontal neocortex and hippocampus) to "motivation system" (amygdala and hypothalamus) lie at the root of the extra-intraversion parameter. The relationship of the "frontal neocortex – hypothalamus" and "hippocampus – amygdala" systems is reflected in the scale of neurotism (emotionality). The activity of the "hypothalamus-hippocampus" produces mobility or inertness. Various forms of disorders in the normal interaction of the four indicated brain structures apparently determine the main types of neurosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Psychophysiological monitoring of operator's emotional stress in aviation and astronautics.

The level of emotional stress depending on the power of motivation and the estimation by the subject of the probability (possibility) of goal achievement, largely influences the operator's skill performance (that of a pilot, controller, astronaut). A decrease in the emotional tonus leads to drowsiness, lack of vigilance, missing of significant signals, and to slower reactions. The extremely high stress level disorganizes the activity, complicates it with a trend toward untimely acts and reactions to the insignificant signals (false alarms). The best methods to monitor the degree of the operator's emotional state during his skill performance are the integral estimation of the changes in heart-rate and T-peak amplitude, as well as the analysis of spectral and intonational characteristics of the human voice during radio conversation. These methods were tested on paratroopers, pilots in civil aviation, and airport controllers.

Aerospace Medicine↗
PubMed1980

Electroencephalographic correlates of human emotional stress.

Experiments showed that emotional stress is accompanied in humans by depression of the EEG alpha rhythm when the subject is attentive to the environment, and by alpha rhythm exaltation when he is imagining emotionally colored events. It is assumed that alpha rhythm reflects the activity of a mechanism quantitating the flow of external signals, whereas theta rhythm is connected with the quantity of engrams extracted from memory. Interaction of excited and inhibiting nervous structures, determining the dynamics of EEG changes, is discussed in terms of the mathematical model of V. Volterra.

Alpha Rhythm↗
PubMed1979

The role of emotions in the formation of instrumental conditioned reflex.

The recording of vegetative parameters of emotional stress in humane and in dogs during elaboration of instrumental conditioned reflexes showed that such stress is a function of two major factors: (i) the value of the actual need (drive) and (ii) the estimation by the brain of the probability (possibility) of its satisfaction. Comparison of the need with the possibility of its satisfaction activates the mechanisms of positive (maximized by the subject) or negative (minimized) emotions; which serve as the direct reinforcement of instrumental conditioned reflexes. Experiments show that needs and emotions have an independent morphological substratum. The hypothalamus and amygdala must be intact in order to single out the need that is dominant at a given moment and is first to be satisfied. Estimation of the probability of need's satisfaction (probability of reinforcement)is the function of the frontal areas in the neocortex and hippocampus. These four brain structures play a decisive role in the genesis of emotional states and in the organization of behavior.

Amygdala↗
PubMed1978

Avoidance reaction of painful stimulation of another rat: effect of methylglucamine orotate.

An avoidance reaction to painful stimulation of another animal was developed in rats. Two hundred twenty-five mg/kg methylglucamine orotate was injected intraperitoneally each day, 1 hr before the training session. The orotate treated rats showed an accelerated development of the avoidance reaction during 5 days of training. Depending on the experimental conditions, extinction of the reaction was delayed in orotate treated rats, compared to saline controls. The results from these experiments, using neither footshock punishment nor food reward as reinforcement, give further evidence for the improvement of long term memory by orotic acid.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Psychophysiological forecasting of efficiency.

The method of mathematical forecasting of the changes in efficiency throughout an increase in emotional stress is suggested on the basis of experimental data from experiments in which paratroopers discerned visual patterns. The comparison of human errors with the experimental results obtained in animals permitted formulation of several suppositions on the role of different cerebral structures in the genesis of emotional stress and the mechanisms of its effect on perceptive activity.

Aviation↗