Complex Cognitive Tasks Research Articles

Estimating person-specific neural correlates of mental rotation: A machine learning approach.

Using neurophysiological measures to model how the brain performs complex cognitive tasks such as mental rotation is a promising way towards precise predictions of behavioural responses. The mental rotation task requires objects to be mentally rotated in space. It has been used to monitor progressive neurological disorders. Up until now, research on neural correlates of mental rotation have largely focused on group analyses yielding models with features common across individuals. Here, we propose an individually tailored machine learning approach to identify person-specific patterns of neural activity during mental rotation. We trained ridge regressions to predict the reaction time of correct responses in a mental rotation task using task-related, electroencephalographic (EEG) activity of the same person. When tested on independent data of the same person, the regression model predicted the reaction times significantly more accurately than when only the average reaction time was used for prediction (bootstrap mean difference of 0.02, 95% CI: 0.01-0.03, p < .001). When tested on another person's data, the predictions were significantly less accurate compared to within-person predictions. Further analyses revealed that considering person-specific reaction times and topographical activity patterns substantially improved a model's generalizability. Our results indicate that a more individualized approach towards neural correlates can improve their predictive performance of behavioural responses, particularly when combined with machine learning.

Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Job Landscape in the Indian IT Sector

This research paper evaluates the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the job market within India’s Information Technology (IT) sector using literature review, mathematical calculations, graphical representation, and qualitative assessment. Given the IT sector’s significant contribution to India’s GDP and AI’s leading role in the global technology revolution, this study holds particular relevance. Job roles are changing as automation follows a path from routine, data-intensive tasks to potentially displacing conventionally "smart" roles like software testing . On the other hand, roles that involve more complex cognitive tasks such as coding or data analysis, are being augmented by AI, which has positive effects on productivity and job satisfaction. In addition, new jobs roles like AI ethics officers and AI architects are also coming up, which calls for reskilling/upskilling. Nevertheless, this paper suggests that AI has a dual-faceted impact on the IT job market in India — it threatens the obsolescence of some roles but also focuses on creating more skilled jobs. It also suggests that the workforce must be equipped with the required skills and knowledge to enable such initiatives and ensure viable future growth and innovation within the industry.

Integrating Hybrid Learning in Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) approach for Enhanced Language Proficiency

In an era where education is increasingly defined by digital integration and flexibility, this study ventures into the intersection of two powerful pedagogical approaches- hybrid learning and Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL). The research examines how the fusion of these methods impacts the language proficiency of Class 8th students, providing a fresh perspective on modern educational strategies. Using a quasi-experimental design, the study assesses the language outcomes of students receiving hybrid CLIL instruction against those following traditional CLIL methods, focusing on key areas such as vocabulary, grammar, reading comprehension and writing skills. The findings reveal a significant edge for the hybrid CLIL group, whose language proficiency soared across all measured areas, outperforming their peers in traditional settings. The study underscores the value of a blended learning environment where digital tools and in-person instruction converge, creating an adaptive, learner-centered approach that enhances both content understanding and language development. By bridging the gap between physical classrooms and virtual resources, hybrid CLIL empowers students to navigate complex linguistic and cognitive tasks more effectively. This study not only redefines the potential of CLIL in contemporary education but also opens doors for future pedagogical innovations, suggesting that hybrid learning is not just an option but a necessity for cultivating 21st-century learners. The findings offer a roadmap for educators and policymakers seeking to embrace new teaching models that meet the evolving demands of education.

Bimodal alteration of cognitive accuracy for spintronic artificial neural networks.

Spintronics-based artificial neural networks (ANNs) exhibiting nonvolatile, fast, and energy-efficient computing capabilities are promising neuromorphic hardware for performing complex cognitive tasks of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Early experimental efforts focused on multistate device concepts to enhance synaptic weight precisions, albeit compromising on cognitive accuracy due to their low magnetoresistance. Here, we propose a hybrid approach based on the tuning of tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) and the number of states in the compound magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) to improve the cognitive performance of an all-spin ANN. A TMR variation of 33-78% is controlled by the free layer (FL) thickness wedge (1.6-2.6 nm) across the wafer. Meanwhile, the number of resistance states in the compound MTJ is manipulated by varying the number of constituent MTJ cells (n = 1-3), generating n + 1 states with a TMR difference between consecutive states of at least 21%. Using MNIST handwritten digit and fashion object databases, the test accuracy of the compound MTJ ANN is observed to increase with the number of intermediate states for a fixed FL thickness or TMR. Meanwhile, the test accuracy for a 1-cell MTJ increases linearly by 8.3% and 7.4% for handwritten digits and fashion objects, respectively, with increasing TMR. Interestingly, a multifarious TMR dependence of test accuracy is observed with the increasing synaptic complexity in the 2- and 3-cell MTJs. By leveraging on the bimodal tuning of multilevel and TMR, we establish viable paths for enhancing the cognitive performance of spintronic ANN for in-memory and neuromorphic computing.

An immunological puzzle: The adaptive immune system fuels Alzheimer’s disease pathology

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a concerning rise in prevalence. It is projected that the number of affected individuals will reach a staggering 150 million by 2050. While recent advancements in monoclonal antibodies targeting Aβ have shown some clinical effects, there is an urgent need for improved therapies to effectively address the impeding surge of AD patients worldwide. To achieve this, a deeper understanding of the intricate mechanisms underlying the disease is crucial. In recent years, mounting evidence has underscored the vital role of the innate immune system in AD pathology. However, limited findings persist regarding the involvement of the adaptive immune system. Here, we report on the impact of the adaptive immune system on various aspects of AD by using AppNL-G-F mice crossed into a Rag2−/− background lacking mature adaptive immune cells. In addition, to simulate the continuous exposure to various challenges such as infections that is commonly observed in humans, the innate immune system was activated through the repetitive induction of peripheral inflammation. We observed a remarkably improved performance on complex cognitive tasks when a mature adaptive immune system is absent. Notably, this observation is pathologically associated with lower Aβ plaque accumulation, reduced glial activation, and better-preserved neuronal networks in the mice lacking a mature adaptive immune system. Collectively, these findings highlight the detrimental role of the adaptive immune system in AD and underscore the need for effective strategies to modulate it for therapeutic purposes.

Research on the contribution of REM sleep to procedural learning

Many studies have confirmed the contribution of sleep to memory consolidation. However, the benefit of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep on memory consolidation remains debatable due to discrepant findings. This paper reviewed the latest human studies that employed complex cognitive procedural learning tasks and new learning techniques, including metacognition stimulation and targeted memory reaction (TMR), to provide evidence on the correlation between REM sleep and memory consolidation of procedural learning. Next, the main hypotheses aiming to explain its underlying neurobiological mechanisms were summarized, with a discussion about the striatum's role, the cholinergic system's activity, and synaptic plasticity during REM sleep. Finally, the paper discussed potential reasons for data inconsistency and several aspects that should be considered in future sleep and memory research.

Impact of Exercise Interventions on Sustained Brain Health Outcomes in Frail Older Individuals: A Comprehensive Review of Systematic Reviews.

Several systematic review studies highlight exercise's positive impact on brain health outcomes for frail individuals. This study adopts a Comprehensive Review of reviews (CRs) approach to amalgamate data from existing reviews, focusing on exercise's influence on brain health outcomes in older frail and pre-frail adults. The methodology involves a thorough search of Portuguese, Spanish, and English-indexed databases (i.e., Ebsco Health, Scielo, ERIC, LILACS, Medline, Web of Science, SportDiscus) from 1990 to 2022, with the AMSTAR-2 tool assessing evidence robustness. The search terms "physical exercise", "elderly frail", and "systematic review" were employed. Results: Out of 12 systematically reviewed studies, four presented high-quality (with metanalyses), while eight exhibit critically low quality. Positive trends emerge in specific cognitive and neuromotor aspects, yet challenges persist in psychosocial domains, complex cognitive tasks, and ADL outcomes. This study yields reasonable and promising evidence regarding exercise's influence on quality of life and depression in frail older individuals. However, the impact on biochemical markers remains inconclusive, emphasizing the need for standardized methodologies. Conclusions: The findings highlight the importance of acknowledging methodological nuances for clinicians and policymakers when translating these results into impactful interventions for aging populations. This emphasizes the necessity for a comprehensive and customized approach to exercise interventions aimed at fostering the sustainability of overall well-being in older individuals, aligning with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3.

The Paradox of Choice in Healthcare: Treating Decision Paralysis

It is widely accepted that having more choices is inherently positive. When there are more available options from which to choose, an individual is more likely to be able to select the particular option that is the best fit and most likely to satisfy them. Hence, choice is typically thought to be related to personal freedom and enhanced well-being. Therefore, for most individuals the ultimate goal is to constantly maximize their choices in life to increase their overall satisfaction and well-being. The decision-making process, however, is a complex cognitive task that does not always lead to positive outcomes. In this article we discuss the decision-making process under the paradox of choice model. We shed light on the paradoxical relationship that increased choice has in the medical practice: instead of giving individuals the freedom to choose the best course of action to improve their overall satisfaction and well-being, overwhelming individuals with too much choice is actually found to be associated with decision paralysis, dissatisfaction, and diminished well-being. The purpose of this article is to draw attention to the consequences of choice overload in healthcare, and to help both practitioners and patients to avoid decision paralysis.

Augmented reality guided autonomous assembly system: A novel framework for assembly sequence input validations and creation of virtual content for AR instructions development

In recent years, industries are striving to adapt immersive technologies in the real-time assembly shop floor setting to achieve effective outcomes in terms of enabling the worker to handle the complex cognitive assembly task execution/training circumstances. The manufacturers are presently facing difficulties with the process of Augmented reality (AR) instruction creation for the required product assembly system. The existing AR instruction development process demands highly skilled experts and more time consumption. Hence, the manufacturers are presently relying on third parties to acquire the required AR instructions by providing the necessary assembly particulars as input. Where, the cost of developing AR instruction is another big challenging concern. Predominantly, the significance of providing exact assembly input is vital for the experts to develop the appropriate AR content without any errors. An automated approach is developed in this study to resolve the difficulties with assembly sequence input for the AR instructions development process. The automated approach affords four different provisions that include validation of an assembly sequence input prior to the AR instructions development stage, suggestions for assembly sequence input generation, simulation of validated assembly sequence in the Virtual reality (VR) environment for user perception, and generation of virtual content for AR visualizations. Subsequently, the generated digital contents from the automated approach are imparted into the AR Unity platform to develop the required AR instructions for the product assembly system. Notably, this study explores the AR customized marker technique to visualize the AR content in the user’s view of the physical context. Finally, the AR guidelines are built as apps for the selected 11-part assembly and deployed on the shop floor for the user to perceive the AR content through visualization devices for execution of assembly operations in a real-time context. In addition, the effectiveness of the automated approach is analyzed with the existing approach, and the consequences are explored through the process of receiving feedback from the experts about the error rate, cognitive level, and creation time.

Refinement of IntelliCage protocols for complex cognitive tasks through replacement of drinking restrictions by incentive-disincentive paradigms.

The IntelliCage allows automated testing of cognitive abilities of mice in a social home cage environment without handling by human experimenters. Restricted water access in combination with protocols in which only correct responses give access to water is a reliable learning motivator for hippocampus-dependent tasks assessing spatial memory and executive function. However, water restriction may negatively impact on animal welfare, especially in poor learners. To better comply with the 3R principles, we previously tested protocols in which water was freely available but additional access to sweetened water could be obtained by learning a task rule. While this purely appetitive motivation worked for simple tasks, too many mice lost interest in the sweet reward during more difficult hippocampus-dependent tasks. In the present study, we tested a battery of increasingly difficult spatial tasks in which water was still available without learning the task rule, but rendered less attractive either by adding bitter tasting quinine or by increasing the amount of work to obtain it. As in previous protocols, learning of the task rule provided access to water sweetened with saccharin. The two approaches of dual motivation were tested in two cohorts of female C57BL/6 N mice. Compared to purely appetitive motivation, both novel protocols strongly improved task engagement and increased task performance. Importantly, neither of the added disincentives had an adverse impact on liquid consumption, health status or body weight of the animals. Our results show that it is possible to refine test protocols in the IntelliCage so that they challenge cognitive functions without restricting access to water.

Patients experience of cognitive fatigue post-stroke: an exploratory study

Purpose Cognitive fatigue is commonly reported and described as disabling by patients recovering from neurological conditions including stroke. However, cognitive fatigue is usually underdiagnosed among stroke survivors which leads to a lack of specific treatments for this condition. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore post-stroke cognitive fatigue as it is experienced by stroke survivors. Methods This qualitative research followed the principles of descriptive phenomenology within a constructivist paradigm. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with stroke survivors experiencing post-stroke cognitive fatigue recruited through the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery, and social media posts. Data were analyzed through inductive content analysis. Results Eleven stroke survivors participated. The analysis revealed five themes illustrating the experience and descriptions of post-stroke cognitive fatigue: (1) characteristics, (2) aggravating factors, (3) management, (4) effect of cognitive fatigue on daily life, and (5) social awareness and support. Conclusion This study highlights the complexity of post-stroke cognitive fatigue. Cognitive fatigue becomes more evident after discharge; therefore, clinicians should consistently screen for it and provide proper education to the patients and their carers. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION Cognitive fatigue is a complex phenomenon that can negatively affect the daily life of stroke survivors. Sensory-overloaded environments, emotional distress, poor sleep, and engaging in complex cognitive tasks can trigger post-stroke cognitive fatigue. More education on the concept of cognitive fatigue should be provided to healthcare providers to be able to identify and manage this symptom properly.

Prefrontal Cortex Codes Representations of Target Identity and Feature Uncertainty.

Many objects in the real world have features that vary over time, creating uncertainty in how they will look in the future. This uncertainty makes statistical knowledge about the likelihood of features critical to attention demanding processes such as visual search. However, little is known about how the uncertainty of visual features is integrated into predictions about search targets in the brain. In the current study, we test the idea that regions prefrontal cortex code statistical knowledge about search targets before the onset of search. Across 20 human participants (13 female; 7 male), we observe target identity in the multivariate pattern and uncertainty in the overall activation of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and inferior frontal junction (IFJ) in advance of the search display. This indicates that the target identity (mean) and uncertainty (variance) of the target distribution are coded independently within the same regions. Furthermore, once the search display appears the univariate IFJ signal scaled with the distance of the actual target from the expected mean, but more so when expected variability was low. These results inform neural theories of attention by showing how the prefrontal cortex represents both the identity and expected variability of features in service of top-down attentional control.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Theories of attention and working memory posit that when we engage in complex cognitive tasks our performance is determined by how precisely we remember task-relevant information. However, in the real world the properties of objects change over time, creating uncertainty about many aspects of the task. There is currently a gap in our understanding of how neural systems represent this uncertainty and combine it with target identity information in anticipation of attention demanding cognitive tasks. In this study, we show that the prefrontal cortex represents identity and uncertainty as unique codes before task onset. These results advance theories of attention by showing that the prefrontal cortex codes both target identity and uncertainty to implement top-down attentional control.

Illuminating Student Voices in Research: What 7th Graders Report Learning After a Revision Unit of Study

ABSTRACT Revision is a complex cognitive task and an integral component of the writing process. Students benefit from understanding the value of and how to revise their own writing. The purpose of this study was to turn to students to investigate their understandings of revision. We posed the following question: What are 7th graders’ perceptions and understandings of revision following a unit of study on revision? Using Qualtrics, we surveyed 345 seventh grade students (52% male, 48% female) about their understanding of revision after revising a piece of writing they had previously composed and considered “finished.” Within the unit, students were taught to replace, add, delete, and reorder their writing. Findings indicate that prior to the unit students confused editing tasks for revision moves. Following the unit, students’ understanding of the purpose of and how to revise grew and they felt their knowledge and use of revision strategies improved their writing. In addition, students found that distance from their piece helped them to see their writing in more critical ways. Student voices and experiences are needed to shed light on what students really know and understand about revision.

Augmented reality aided object mapping for worker assistance/training in an industrial assembly context: Exploration of affordance with existing guidance techniques

In recent years, the affordances of immersive technologies in the industrial context have enabled the onsite worker to have increased potential towards handling the complex procedural and cognitive tasks involved in the strategy of manufacturing an appropriate product. This article describes the potential of Augmented Reality (AR) in terms of upgraded workplace understanding, training, and assisting semi-skilled/new workers in an industrial production environment. The different modes of instruction visualization techniques are investigated for the execution of assembly tasks and explored their impact in accordance to the efficiency of task execution, completion time, error rate perception, cognitive load, and independence. Progress outcomes of 24 participants are explored for real-time execution of a Reverse osmosis (RO) booster pump assembly in terms of different modes of visualization, such as the conventional document method, virtual /desktop mode, and object mapping-based AR. Additionally, the user studies on different visualization devices involving hand-held visualization devices (HHVD) and Head-mounted visualization devices (HMVD) are investigated and validated in terms of adaptability, acceptability, and usability. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the AR-aided object mapping technology versus other methods is explored through the feedback received from both experts and academia participants, which increases the insight of the technology and provides an intelligent mechanism for semi-skilled/new workers to handle complex or challenging operations in the production environment. The studies indicate that object mapping-based AR visualization facilitates increased assembly task efficiency and the minimum number of errors compared to the other guidance modes. Notably, the HMVD affords an increased realism experience, minimized errors, and less completion time compared to the HHVD.

Carbohydrate ingestion attenuates the reduction in complex cognitive function and cerebral blood flow during prolonged passive heat stress in humans

PurposeTo determine whether carbohydrate ingestion would reduce cognitive dysfunction in humans following long duration passive heat stress (PHS) versus consuming electrolytes alone. MethodsFifteen young (27 ± 4 y) healthy adults were exposed to 120 min of PHS through the use of a liquid perfused suit (50 °C) on two randomized visits. Subjects consumed fluids supplemented with electrolytes (E) or electrolytes + carbohydrates (E + C). Pre- and post-heat stress, body mass (BM) and plasma osmolality (pOsm) were measured. Heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), Physiological Strain Index (PSI), core temperature (Tc), plasma glucose, respiration rate (RR), end-tidal CO2 (PetCO2) and internal carotid artery (ICA) blood flow were recorded at baseline and every 15 min of heat stress. Cognitive function was assessed via the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metric at baseline and at 30- and 120 min during heat stress. ResultsThere were no significant differences between fluid conditions for BM, pOsm, PSI, Tc, RR or PetCO2. Plasma glucose was ∼75% greater in the E + C condition compared to the E condition after 90 min of PHS (P < 0.05). Cognitive function (120 min) was impaired following PHS only in E condition (P < 0.05) and performance on complex cognitive tasks were better by ∼22–340% in the E + C vs. E (P < 0.05). Compared to the E condition, HR and BP were lower and ICA blood flow, vascular conductance, and glucose delivery was ∼90% greater in the E + C after 90 min of PHS (P < 0.05). ConclusionsThese data are the first to demonstrate that carbohydrate ingestion may have a protective effect on cognitive function during long duration PHS. Furthermore, this protection was associated with preserved ICA blood flow and glucose delivery to the brain.

Teachers’ Understanding of the Major Sources of Self-efficacy in Early Childhood

AbstractSelf-efficacy has been associated with benefits to everyday life such as resilience to stress and adversity, healthy behaviours, improved performance, and academic achievement. Research into self-efficacy development is scarce in early childhood, yet self-efficacy is associated with numerous skills and competencies taught in the early years of school. A mixed-method approach was employed to explore early childhood teachers’ understanding of how self-efficacy developed in children. The study focussed on teachers of children in Kindergarten to Year 2 (K–2) in primary schools in Western Australia and was conducted in two phases. Initially, an online survey, answered by 74 K–2 teachers, was implemented to gather early childhood teachers’ understandings of the self-efficacy construct. The second phase sought additional description of survey findings through semi-structured interviews with 10 early childhood teachers. Findings identified that early childhood teachers describe the sources of self-efficacy differently to research with older children and adults. In older children, mastery is considered a primary source of self-efficacy, as mastery experiences provide children with concrete evidence of their capabilities and competence. This study identified that young children, who have not had time or opportunity to master complex cognitive tasks, rely on self-efficacy sources that are more in line with their developmental levels, including their physiological and emotional states. This finding has major implications for how teachers, school leaders, curriculum writers and policy makers think about the self-efficacy development of children in early childhood settings.

Chatgpt: A New Era In Research Writing Assistance.

The integration of artificial intelligence in everyday tasks is becoming prevalent, and its application has extended to academic and scientific writing. The utilization of large language models, such as ChatGPT, has gained significant traction among researchers and scientific writers in recent times. According to a recent article published in Nature, ChatGPT is capable of generating text that sounds both realistic and intelligent in response to user prompts (1). A recent study published in December 2022 evaluated the ability of ChatGPT, to execute complex cognitive tasks and generate text that is indistinguishable from text produced by humans. (2), suggesting that it can be difficult for researchers to distinguish between abstracts created by AI and original ones (1). Another study published in December 2022 showed that ChatGPT could generate precise and believable scientific abstracts (3).Likewise An additional study published in 2022 postulated that based on the analysis of ChatGPT's applications, capabilities, and limitations, it can significantly enhance academic research across a broad range of fields. (4). A recently published literature review using ChatGPT has been cited as an example of ChatGPT application in the field of scientific writing and research (5). Moreover, ChatGPT has also been used to write and publish editorials and research papers (1, 6, 7). Despite the benefits, some researchers are still evaluating the implications and effects of using these models in the long term. (1). This letter aims to present the advantages of utilizing ChatGPT, a large language model developed by OpenAI, in the field of scientific writing. ChatGPT can help researchers in a various ways, including generating text, summarizing text, completing the text, editing text, and creating references, bibliography and citations. The most significant application of ChatGPT in scientific writing is text generation, as the model can be used to generate outlines, abstracts, and introductions to research papers. However, it is imperative to point out that ChatGPT cannot provide text with proper citations to research papers and sources. ChatGPT can also support researchers in the text summarization process, enabling them to extract meaningful information from vast amounts of text data like research papers or articles. Additionally, some researchers use ChatGPT to analyze large volumes of text data to gain deeper insights and knowledge, which is particularly useful in qualitative research and in writing literature reviews. ---Continue

Working memory capacity and text comprehension performance in children with dyslexia and dyscalculia: a pilot study.

Different research over the years has shown how the executive processes of Working Memory are a fundamental area that allows the performance of complex cognitive tasks such as language comprehension, reading, mathematical skills, learning or reasoning. Therefore, scientific evidence shows that they are altered in people with dyslexia and dyscalculia. The aim of this research was to study the relationship between semantic updating ability and reading comprehension depending on whether or not the information content had a mathematical character between the two disorders. A Pilot Case Study was carried out for this purpose. The sample consisted of 40 participants aged 6 to 11 years, 20 of them with a diagnosis of dyslexia and the remaining 20 with a diagnosis of dyscalculia. The results indicate that people with dyslexia show more difficulties in all those tasks that require reading. People with dyscalculia obtain worse results in the tasks of stimulus integration and reading comprehension of texts with mathematical content. Furthermore, the correlation between the different areas evaluated shows that people with dyslexia and dyscalculia develop different cognitive processes. Therefore, it is necessary to continue insisting on the importance of explicit work on working memory, since it is a determining and fundamental area in the development of written language comprehension.

Analysis of Cognitive Functions and Neurophysiological Processes in Adaptation of Human to Conditions of the Arctic Region

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the work is analysis of one of the most important problems of the modern biomedical science problem of studying the processes of human adaptation to a complex of climatic and geographic factors and conditions of the Far North in the period of increased necessity in realization of the economic, industrial and defense activity of the government. The review presents the data of scientific study of cognitive functions and neurophysiological changes in people permanently living in or arriving to the Arctic zone. In the first part, the factors are considered that evidence different disorders in memory, concentration, efficiency of performing simple and complex cognitive tasks by test persons in conditions of low temperature, seasonal photoperiodicity, a particular working regime, such as rotational team method, etc. The age-related peculiarities of dynamics of the cognitive processes in children and adolescents living in the Arctic region are considered. The second part of the article presents analysis of scientific data on changes of electrophysiological parameters of the brain structure activity under the influence of individual or complex factors of Arctic conditions. In particular, changes of the encephalographic rhythms, evoked potentials, hemispheric asymmetry and parameters of autonomic regulation of the heart rate variability in the initial condition and on exposure to the factors of the Far North, are described. A necessity of individual typological analysis of the adaptation process characteristics depending on the initial regulatory peculiarities, neurophysiological characteristics of people, duration of their stay in the mentioned conditions, is emphasized. Inconsistency or ambiguity of the presented data indicate the importance of using a complex approach to scientific research which should include systemic analysis of the dynamics of neurophysiological characteristics and parameters of achieved effectiveness of modeled or professional activity in the Arctic conditions.&#x0D; CONCLUSION: The paper substantiates the necessity of elaboration of personalized methods of increasing the adaptive reserves of people working and living in the Arctic zones; one of these may be modern systems based on biocontrol with feedback from physiological systems of a human. Besides, it is noted that application of the principles of the theory of the functional systems formulated by academician P. K. Anokhin, can contribute to deeper understanding of adaptation processes, changes of cognitive and professional abilities, their neurophysiological support in the Arctic conditions.

The Effect of Cognitive Task Complexity on Healthy Gait in the Walking Corsi Test.

Dual-task activities are essential within everyday life, requiring visual-spatial memory (VSM) and mobility skills. Navigational memory is an important component of VSM needed to carry out everyday activities, but this is often not included in traditional tests such as the Corsi block tapping test (CBT). The Walking Corsi Test (WalCT) allows both VSM and navigational memory to be tested together, as well as allowing measures of gait to be collected, thus providing a more complete understanding of dual-task function. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an increasingly complex cognitive task on gait in a healthy adult population, using the WalCT and body-worn inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors. Participants completed both the CBT and WalCT, where they were asked to replicate increasingly complex sequences until they were no longer able to carry this out correctly. IMU sensors were worn on the shins throughout the WalCT to assess changes in gait as task complexity increased. Results showed that there were significant differences in several gait parameters between completing a relatively simple cognitive task and completing a complex task. The type of memory used also appeared to have an impact on some gait variables. This indicates that even within a healthy population, gait is affected by cognitive task complexity, which may limit function in everyday dual-task activities.