№ 5 / 2014 / 27-36

Interindividual differences in behavioral strategies of younger schoolchildren in recognition of audio signal and in stop-signal paradigm

Author: Tamozhnikov S.S.¹, Levin E.A.², Stеpanova V.V.³, Savostianov A.N.⁴

Abstract

Currently, there is need for the development of diagnostic tools for various neurological disorders associated with deterioration of attention in children. One of the methods of objective diagnostics of individual features of the attention system is the analysis of behavioral responses under selection of stimuli. The aim of our work was to compare the behavioral responses in junior schoolchildren in conditions of attention and motor control tasks. 56 first graders (mean age 7.5 years, 26 boys) were examined. Every examination was conducted twice, each child was observed at the beginning and the end of the school year. The attention system state was examined using odd-ball paradigm with either monophonic sound orpolyphonic syllables as stimuli and a visual Stop Signal paradigm (SSP) that allows evaluating individual features of motor control. In odd-ball paradigm with monophonic stimulation schoolchildren have shown three behavioral strategies – regular (reactions after stimuli), chaotic (button presses are not related with stimuli and their timing) and semichaotic (mixed), whereas in polyphonic condition differences of behavior strategies were not found. Individual differences of reactions in monophonic odd-ball paradigm significantly correlated with indicators of behavior in the SSP. In the second observation, the proportion of children with chaotic and mixed behavioral strategies decreased from 47 % to 16 % of the total sample. Children who had different educational programs also had differences in the dynamics of cognitive functions development.

Key words

attention, younger schoolchildren, motor control, the paradigm of odd-ball, stop-signal paradigm

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About Authors (Correspondence):

Tamozhnikov S.S. – post-graduate student, junior researcher of the laboratory for mechanisms of memory regulation, e-mail: s.tam@physiol.ru

Levin E.A. – candidate of biological sciences, senior researcher of the center of angioneurology and neurosurgery, e-mail: e.a.levin@gmail.com

Stеpanova V.V. – candidate of psychological sciences, leading expert of the scientific and practical center «Harmony» Smolensk, head of the Experimental Center «School of personality development» «Rostock», based on the regional center of information technologies, Novosobirsk, e-mail: stepanowa.valent@yandex.ru

Savostianov A.N. – doctor of philosophic sciences, candidate of biological sciences., associate professor, senior researcher of laboratory for mechanisms of memory regulation, laboratory of health psychology, head of the laboratory of biomarkers social behavior, e-mail: alexander.savostyanov@gmail.com

Full Text

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Received: 08/02/2015