The Influence of the Functional State of Brain Regulatory Systems on the Efficiency of Voluntary Regulation of Cognitive Activity in Children: Ⅱ. Neuropsychological and EEG Analysis of Brain Regulatory Functions in 10-12-Year-Old Children with Learning Difficulties

摘要

A total of 172 children 10-12 years of age were examined by means of EEG and neuropsychological methods in order to analyze the influence of the functional states of brain regulatory systems on the efficiency of voluntary regulation of cognitive activity in preadolescence. The EEG patterns indicative of the suboptimal state of brain regulatory systems (particularly, EEG patterns associated with fronto-thalamic, limbic, and fronto-basal structures) were observed significantly more often in children with learning difficulties than in children without learning difficulties or behavior deviations. Neuropsychological examination showed that the suboptimal state of different brain regulatory systems has a specific effect on the efficiency of voluntary regulation of activity. Children with EEG indications of suboptimal fronto-thalamic functioning exhibited poor selective voluntary regulation, such as impulsiveness and lower capacity of maintaining the learned algorithms in task performance. Children with EEG indications of suboptimal states of limbic structures exhibited an slight deficit in executive functions in the form of planning difficulties and difficulties in switching between different modes of action. EEG changes of fronto-basal genesis are accompanied by the specific deficit in executive functions in the form of motor and tactile perseverations and deviations in emotional-motivational regulation, such as poor motivation in task performance and poor communication skills.