Korsakova N.K., Roshchina I.F., Balashova E.Yu. Interface of interfunctional interactions in the dyad “psyche-brain” during aging as a model of adaptive regulation of mental activity

The problem of levels of regulation of mental activity during normal aging from the perspective of a neuropsychological approach is examined in the article. The authors discuss studies of various aspects of the regulation of mental activity and behavior presented in the works of L.S. Vygotsky, A.R. Luria and other Russian and foreign authors. Particular attention in the article is paid to the neuropsychological approach to the study of regulation, aimed at searching for those brain structures and systems that take part in the implementation of regulatory processes. The contribution of various structural and functional blocks of the brain to the processes of involuntary and voluntary regulation of mental functions, mental activity, and behavior is characterized. The authors consider three main mechanisms of adaptation of the aging brain to new operating conditions. These mechanisms ensure its protection from overloads and self-preservation in changed operating conditions. The first such mechanism is a change in the balance of neurodynamics towards the predominance of inhibitory processes, which can reach varying degrees of severity (up to the development of protective inhibition). As a second mechanism for regulating activity during aging in a situation requiring solving a variety of adaptation tasks, changes in brain function can be considered, consisting in smoothing functional interhemispheric asymmetry. The third mechanism of regulation in late life of activities related to solving adaptive tasks is the redirection of functions of the first structural and functional block of the brain to the third block, i.e., the frontal lobes. The consequences of changes in brain function for the cognitive sphere of aging people, for adaptation to emerging restrictions, and for compensating for difficulties are analyzed. Particular attention is paid to the dynamic interaction of the first and third structural and functional blocks of the brain, as well as changes in the contribution of the left and right hemispheres to various areas of cognitive activity. The potential possibilities of using the described mechanisms in the development of certain aspects of artificial intelligence are discussed. 

Key words: mechanisms and levels of regulation, adaptation, aging, neurogerontopsychology, structural and functional blocks of the brain

For citation: Korsakova, N.K., Roshchina, I.F., Balashova, E.Yu. (2024). Interface of interfunctional interactions in the dyad “psyche-brain” during aging as a model of adaptive regulation of mental activity. New Psychological Research, No. 2, 11–29. DOI: 10.51217/npsyresearch_2024_04_02_01