Types of the nervous system of children material (grade 5) on the topic

All organisms are born with innate responses that help them survive. Unconditioned reflexes are distinguished by their constancy; the same response can be observed to the same irritation.

But the world around us is constantly changing, and the body is forced to adapt to new conditions, and here only innate reflexes cannot cope. The higher parts of the brain are activated, ensuring normal existence and adaptation to constantly changing environmental conditions.

Higher nervous activity

VND is the work of all subcortical formations and the cerebral cortex. This is a fairly broad concept that includes:

• Mental activity.
• Features of behavior.

Each person has his own distinctive behavior, views and beliefs, habits that are formed throughout his life. All these features are based on a system of conditioned reflexes; they are formed under the influence of the environment and the hereditary characteristics of the nervous system.

Pavlov worked on VND for a long time; he developed an objective method for studying the work of the higher parts of the nervous system. Also, in the course of his research, he studied the mechanisms underlying the work of the higher structures of the nervous system and proved experimentally that these are conditioned reflexes.

Temperament types

From the history of the issue

– Oksana Nikolaevna, why are there four types of temperament?

– Back in the fifth century BC, Hippocrates noted the presence in humans of four main substances or “body juices”: blood, bile, black bile and mucus (lymph). Greco-Arab-Persian medicine was based on the recognition of the four elements of nature: water, fire, earth and air, to which the above “body juices” corresponded. The combination (temperamentum, i.e. mixture) of these substances determines the characteristics of human behavior. Hippocrates outlined this idea in his works on the classification of temperaments, distinguishing four main types of temperament in accordance with the substance predominant in the body:

• sanguine is associated with a predominance of blood (sanguis);
• choleric with bile (chole);
• melancholic with black bile (melaina chole);
• phlegmatic with mucus (phlegma).

The ancient Greek scientist believed that hot blood – “sangvis” – makes a person decisive, energetic, able to respond to changes in living conditions, while maintaining balance in his actions. Caustic bile – “chole” – contributes to the appearance of short temper, irritability, and nervousness. Phlegm (mucus) determines the traits of composure, slowness, and balance. Black bile “melancholy” makes a person fearful, indecisive, weak-hearted.

Properties of VND

The main features of the nervous system are inherited by humans. The properties of VND include:

1. The strength of nervous processes.
2. Equilibrium.
3. Mobility.

The first property is considered the most important; it is characterized by the ability of the nervous system to withstand prolonged exposure to stimulating factors.

We can give the following example: on airplanes there is loud noise during the flight; for an adult this is not a strong irritant, but in children who still have weak nervous processes, it can cause extreme inhibition.

All people can be classified into two categories: the first has a strong nervous system, and the second has a weak one. In individuals with a strong type, the nervous system can be balanced or unbalanced.

Balance is characterized by a high rate of development of conditioned reflexes.

A property such as mobility depends on how quickly the processes of inhibition and excitation replace each other. People who easily switch from one activity to another have a mobile nervous system.

Types of nervous system

Based on many years of research and extensive experimental material, I. P. Pavlov found it possible to distinguish different types of animal nervous systems.

IP Pavlov based his identification of types of the nervous system on three main functional properties of the nervous system.

The first property is the strength of excitation and inhibition. This concept is associated with the performance of cells in the cerebral cortex. There are animals whose nervous system has a high limit of performance, and in contrast to them, animals whose nervous system has a low limit of performance.

The second property is the balance of nervous processes. Balance refers to the relationship between excitation and inhibition. Sometimes these two processes are developed equally, but it happens that one of them predominates over the other. Most often, this predominant process is arousal.

The third property is the mobility of excitation and inhibition. This sign is associated with how quickly excitation in cortical cells can be replaced by inhibition, and vice versa. For some it happens quickly, and for others it happens slowly.

Taking these three characteristics into account, I. P. Pavlov identified four main types of the nervous system.

1. Strong unrestrained type. A type with strong processes of excitation and inhibition, but unbalanced, with a sharp predominance of excitation over inhibition.

2. Strong living type. This type is characterized by strong nervous processes, their balance and good mobility, that is, a rapid change of excitation by inhibition and inhibition by excitation.

3. Strong calm type. This type is distinguished by strong balanced processes of excitation and inhibition, but their low mobility. The process of excitation and especially inhibition is replaced slowly.

4. Weak type. Characterized by weak nervous processes with low efficiency of cortical cells. Excitation and inhibition are poorly developed.

There are many intermediate transitions between these four main types of nervous system.

I.P. Pavlov established a coincidence between the types of the nervous system and the four temperaments in people.

The unrestrained type corresponds to the choleric temperament, the lively type corresponds to the sanguine temperament, the calm type corresponds to the phlegmatic and the weak type corresponds to the melancholic temperament.

Taking into account the peculiarities of the interaction of the first and second signaling systems, I. P. Pavlov considered it possible to distinguish two main human types of the nervous system. One of NIhon called an artistic type. He included writers, musicians, painters, etc. in this group. In this group, the first signaling system somewhat predominates over the second. The other type was called the thinking type. This group includes scientists - philosophers, mathematicians, philologists, etc. For people belonging to this group, the second signaling system somewhat predominates over the first. There is also a middle group. In individuals belonging to the middle group, the predominance of one system over the other is not expressed.

A.G. Ivanov-Smolensky studied the types of closure activity of the cerebral cortex and gave their classification. He identified the following four main types.

1. Labile type - both positive and inhibitory conditioned connections are formed equally easily and quickly.

2. Inert type - both connections are formed and strengthened equally with a delay, slowly.

3. Excitable type - positive connections are formed very easily and quickly, inhibitory connections, on the contrary, are difficult and slow.

4. Inhibitory type - positive connections are formed and strengthened slowly, and inhibitory ones, on the contrary, easily and quickly.

The type of nervous system consists of the interaction of the inherited properties of the nervous system and the influences that an individual experiences during life. As a result, a certain type of nervous system is created, in the formation of which external conditions become decisive.

The type of nervous system is formed during life and can be changed by education.

Article on the topic Types of the nervous system

Types of GNI

Mental processes and behavioral reactions of each person have their own individual characteristics. The combination of strength, mobility and balance determines the type of GNI. There are several distinctions:

1. Strong, agile and balanced.
2. Strong and unbalanced.
3. Strong, balanced, inert.
4. Weak type.

GNI are also functions related to speech, therefore a person has types that are characteristic only for him, and they are associated with the interaction of the first and second signaling systems:

1. Thoughtful. The second signaling system comes to the fore. Such people have well-developed abstract thinking.
2. Artistic type. The 1st signal system is clearly visible.
3. Average. Both systems are balanced.

The physiology of GND is such that the hereditary characteristics of the course of mental processes can undergo changes under the influence of upbringing, this is due to the fact that there is such a quality as plasticity.

The role of temperament type in the formation of neuroses

 Relevance: nowadays people are often exposed to stressful situations from slight fatigue to neurotic disorders. According to WHO statistics, neurotic spectrum disorders are diagnosed in 10–20% of the population. These numbers are growing every year.

Purpose of the study: to identify the relationship between the type of temperament and the degree of neuroticism from this type of temperament.

Materials and research methods:

The study involved patients from City Clinical Hospital No. 2 named after. F.H. Grail” aged from 25 to 60 years.

Each patient was asked to undergo:

1. Eysenck test to determine the type of temperament;
2. Heck-Hess test to determine the degree of neuroticism.

Depending on the type of temperament, a person can experience and overcome stressful situations differently. And depending on this, varying degrees of neuroticism may develop.

Temperament can influence the occurrence of neuroses in a person in different ways. For example, neuroses occur more often in choleric and melancholic people than in sanguine and phlegmatic people. [2]

The first to propose dividing people by temperament types was the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates. He compared a person’s temperament with the peculiarities of his behavior, through the “fluids” that predominated in the body. (four elements).

Choleric - yellow bile.

Phlegmatic - lymph.

Sanguine - blood.

Melancholic. - black bile.

I. P. Pavlov was also interested in the doctrine of temperaments. He argued that the mental process and behavior of a person directly depend on the activity of the nervous system, which is involved in regulating the functions of all organs and systems. [1]

As a result of studying conditioned reflexes in dogs, Pavlov discovered that each of them reacts differently to a stimulus depending on behavior, which was manifested by the speed and accuracy of the formation of conditioned reflexes, and the characteristics of their attenuation. Thus, he put forward the theory that the basis is the properties of the nervous system - excitation and inhibition. These properties include strength, balance and mobility.

The first property is that the strength of excitation shows the activity of the nerve cell. It is able to withstand long-term or short-term, but strong excitation, which does not switch to a state of inhibition.

The second property is that people are divided into balanced and unbalanced. It depends on the strength of excitation and inhibition.

The third property is mobility, which is manifested by the alternation of one nervous process with another.

In accordance with these properties, I. P. Pavlov identified combinations that make up the type of nervous system:

– strong, balanced, agile – sanguine;

– strong, balanced, inert – phlegmatic;

– strong, unbalanced type with a predominance of excitement - choleric;

– weak type – melancholic. [3]

As a result of the data obtained about the types of the nervous system during the experiment on animals, Pavlov decided that such types could also occur in humans.

According to Pavlov, precisely those moments of behavior in which the properties of nerve cells are reflected are temperament.

People with a weak type of nervous system find it more difficult to tolerate strong environmental irritants, which leads to rapid overexcitation of nerve cells with the subsequent development of a pathological condition such as nervousness.

Such strong irritants can be any psychotraumatic factors. [1]

Neurosis is a pathological process with reversible disorders of mental functioning, arising under the influence of psychotraumatic factors, which is manifested by a deterioration in well-being, somatovegetative, emotional functions, mental exhaustion and occurs without suppression of the consciousness of the disease and distortion of the real world.

Neuroses develop in the event of a violation of the relationship between the first and second signaling systems, the cortex and subcortex.

The first signaling system is a system found in animals and humans. Responsible for conditioned reflexes to specific stimuli.

The second signaling system is a system that only humans have. It is formed in the central nervous system and is activated as a result of a speech stimulus. Works on the basis of the first signal system

Both systems are firmly linked and are in constant interconnection. The second signaling system transmits the influences of the external and internal world to the first signaling system. Disturbing the balance between these systems is equivalent to separating form from content. That is, what predisposes to the development of neurosis is which signaling system is weaker and therefore more susceptible to change [4].

Table 1

Distribution of patients depending on the type of temperament and degree of neuroticism

As a result of testing, the following results are available: of the surveyed patients, among whom 53.2% have a low degree of neuroticism, the predominant type of temperament is phlegmatic 23.3%. People with this type of temperament have the following qualities: high energy, which largely prevails over low reactivity, reduced sensitivity and emotionality. They are also calm even in very difficult situations. Phlegmatic people are distinguished by a low level of behavioral activity: they are unhurried, calm, calm, and prone to constancy in the sphere of feelings and moods. Characterized by condescension, steadfastness, equanimity. But even among phlegmatic people there are people with a high level of neuroticism (3.3%), although in a smaller percentage than other types of temperament. [12]

Rice. 1

3.3% of subjects have a mixed type of temperament; as a result, the average degree of neuroticism predominates due to the weakening of one of them.

Rice. 2

Among patients with a high degree of neuroticism, choleric people (13.3%) and melancholic people (10%) predominate. This is due to the characteristics of their temperaments. Choleric people are characterized by low sensitivity, high reactivity and energy. But reactivity clearly predominates, so he is unrestrained, fickle, impatient, irritable. [12]

Rice. 3

A melancholic person is a person with high sensitivity and low reactivity. Increased sensitivity with great inertia leads to the fact that an insignificant reason can cause tears, he is overly touchy, painfully sensitive. Usually he is unsure of himself, timid, the slightest difficulty makes him give up. Lack of energy and lack of persistence, gets tired easily and is ineffective. [12]

Rice. 4

Conclusion: in the course of the study, we found that temperament plays an important role in the predisposition to neurosis. Depending on the basic properties of the type of higher nervous activity, they influence both the occurrence and the course of all kinds of diseases, including neuroses.

Literature:

1. V. P. Stupnitsky, O. I. Shcherbakova, V. E. Stepanov. Psychology. - M.: Trading Corporation "Dashkov and Co", 2013. - 263 p.
2. R. Kh. Tugusheva, E. I. Garber. General psychology. - M.: Publishing House Eksmo LLC, 2006. - 553 p.
3. Lebedev M. A., Palatov S. Yu., Kovrov G. V. Neuroses (clinical, dynamics, therapy) // RMJ “Medical Review” No. 3. - 2013. - No. 3. - P. 165.
4. B. D. Tsygankov, S. A. Ovsyannikov. Psychiatry. - M,: "GEOTAR-Media", 2012. - 496 p.

Sanguine

Hippocrates also divided people into different categories, each with their own temperament. It is the characteristics of GNI that determine whether people belong to one type or another.

A strong nervous system with mobile processes is characteristic of sanguine people. All reflexes in such people are formed quickly, speech is loud and clear. Such people speak expressively, using gestures, but without unnecessary facial expressions.

The extinction and restoration of conditioned connections occurs easily and quickly. If a child has such a temperament, then he has good abilities and lends himself well to education.

Choleric

In such people, excitation processes prevail over inhibition. Conditioned reflexes are developed with great ease, but their inhibition, on the contrary, occurs with difficulty. Choleric people are always mobile and cannot concentrate on one thing for a long time.

GNI is also behavior, and in people with such a temperament it often requires strict correction, especially in children. In childhood, choleric people can behave aggressively and defiantly, this is due to high excitability and weak inhibition of nervous processes.

Characteristics of temperament types - sanguine, phlegmatic, choleric and melancholic

Phlegmatic person

The GNI of a person with a strong and balanced nervous system, but slow switching between mental processes is classified as a phlegmatic temperament.

Reflexes are formed, but much more slowly. Such people speak slowly, their speech is measured and calm, without any facial expressions or gestures. The GNI of a child with such a temperament has characteristics that make such children diligent and disciplined. They complete all tasks conscientiously, but slowly.

It is very important for parents and teachers to know this feature and take it into account during classes and communication.

Melancholic

Types of VND differ in their properties and features of the functioning of the nervous system. If it is weak, then we can talk about a melancholic temperament.

Such people have great difficulty enduring the effects of strong stimuli; in response, they begin to experience extreme inhibition. It is very difficult for melancholic people to get used to a new team, especially for children. All reflexes are formed slowly, after repeated combination with an unconditioned stimulus.

The movements and speech of such people are slow and measured. They, as a rule, do not make unnecessary movements. If you look from the outside at a child with such a temperament, you can say that he is constantly afraid of something and can never stand up for himself.

The relationship between temperament and physique

– Is it true that there is some connection between a person’s temperament and physique?

– There are several concepts that are based on the connection between a person’s mental characteristics and his constitution. First of all, this is the concept of the psychiatrist E. Kretschmer, who observed mental patients for many years and identified a certain relationship between behavior and physique. So, people with a picnic (large) build

with a broad chest, protruding belly and large head, they are characterized by openness, responsibility, smooth movements and sharply changing moods.

People of asthenic physique:

a long and narrow chest, long limbs, an elongated face, weak muscles - are characterized by isolation and inappropriate reactions.
Athletically built
people with well-developed muscles, a strong physique, tall, broad shoulders and narrow hips have a calm, reserved character.
Dysplastic
- a disproportionate person has features of all of the above types.

Later, this concept was developed in the works of psychologist W. Sheldon, who identified three main types of constitution: endomorphic, mesomorphic and ectomorphic. Each type has a specific temperament. Endomorphs (fat with underdeveloped muscles) are prone to comfort, enjoying food, and emotional communication with other people. Mesomorphs (athletes) are characterized by energy, need for movement, activity, courage, risk-taking, lust for power, and aggressiveness. Ectomorphs - people with a fragile physique and lack of pronounced muscles - are characterized by restraint, lethargy, isolation, timidity, and a tendency to loneliness.

The conclusions of E. Kretschmer and W. Sheldon were subjected to doubts and tests more than once and in many ways turned out to be contradictory, but in general, the researchers recognized that there is a shaky but reliable connection between physique and temperament.

A modern approach to the study of temperament

– What is the classification of temperaments based on today?

– The modern approach to the study of human temperament is associated with the properties of the central nervous system. The doctrine was developed in I. Pavlov’s theory about the types of higher nervous activity. The Russian scientist-physiologist connected the four types of temperament according to Hippocrates with the three main qualities of the nervous system: strength, balance and mobility of the processes of inhibition and excitation. I. Pavlov described four types of combinations of these aspects as four types of higher nervous activity. “The strength of neural processes” refers to the ability of cortical nerve cells to respond adequately to extremely strong stimuli, either by excitation or inhibition. “Balance” is the equality between excitation and inhibition; “motility” means the ability of nerve cells to change their state in response to changes in the environment. All these nervous processes can be mobile or inert. The relationship between these qualities is a prerequisite for dividing people into four categories.

Subsequently, the teachings of I. Pavlov and his followers developed and were supplemented. In modern research, the types of higher nervous activity are determined by more than 30 physiological indicators. The properties of the nervous system of humans and higher animals began to be further divided into conditioned reflex and unconditioned reflex activity. In this regard, Pavlov’s concept of “strength” is divided into the force of unconditional excitation and inhibition and the force of conditioned excitation and inhibition. In the light of recent discoveries, attempts have been made to create new classifications of higher nervous activity and three types of people have been identified: thinking, artistic and average.

– What is temperament, after all?

– Temperament is a type of human behavior, in no case a character. Temperament does not reflect the content side of a personality, its beliefs, views, interests. Temperament is a set of dynamic processes of behavior, reactions to events: intensity, speed, pace, emotionality, impulsiveness, anxiety, plasticity. The type of nervous system is the physiological basis for the formation of temperament.