Voluntary regulation of the functional state and its influence on the effectiveness of cognitive activity during adolescence

Abstract

We have analyzed the impact of voluntary relaxation on the functional organization and the effectiveness of the voluntary prestimulus attention in performing cognitive tasks in adolescents at the ages of 12–13 and 13–14 years. The effectiveness of cognitive task performance (audio-verbal short-term memory) was estimated on the basis of the number of correctly remembered words. We have found that both age groups are characterized by reduced capacity for voluntary relaxation and its impact on the effectiveness of cognitive task performance. The analysis of the coherence function of EEG rhythmic components in a situation of voluntary attention focused on the performance of cognitive tasks showed no significant change in the interaction of the prefrontal cortex with other cortical areas during the switch from quiet wakefulness or post-relaxation state to the preparation to perform the task, which is typical of adults and young children. Our findings can be a result of sub-optimal functioning of voluntary regulation mechanisms and organization of activities during adolescence.

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