NEUROBIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES OF VISUAL WORKING MEMORY FUNCTIONING IN RADAR STATION OPERATORS

Abstract

Operators are often subjected to a high working memory load as far as any possibly useful information must always be available and presented to the operator. Thus, we assumed that they may have developed adaptations in mechanisms of working memory realization that help them to be more efficient in information overload conditions. Our aim was to define differences in visual working memory functioning in radar station operators (RSO) and other military profession representatives. For this purpose, in parallel with the performance of original computer tests for the visual working memory identification, which had two levels of complexity, we recorded an electroencephalogram with subsequent coherent and LORETA analysis and electrocardiogram with subsequent determining of stress index of the regulatory systems. It was found that reaction time, as well as the number of errors in both tests, didn`t differ significantly for the two groups. At the same time, the control group had a significantly higher number of θ-band coherent connections in the frontal lobe in both tests, which could indicate a higher level of mental stress and emotional involvement. This assumption was confirmed by the stress index dynamic in the control group. LORETA analysis showed that in the RSO group, the degree of fronto-parietal, cingulo-opercular networks, cuneus and precuneus involvement was at a high level from the very first tasks, while in the control group, it increased with task complexity, that is the evidence of adaptive changes in the working memory of RSO, due to which they successfully cope with information overload.