L.S. Vygotsky’s understanding of reflection and a study of its influence on the electrophysiological activity of the brain / El concepto vygotskiano de la reflexión y un estudio de su influencia en la actividad electrofisiológica del cerebro

Abstract

This study aims to examine the impact of reflection on the central nervous system. Our hypothesis included two assumptions: first, that specific brain oscillatory activity occurs after reflection; second, that this activity is age dependent. The novelty of the study lies in registering wave activity before and after acts of reflection, as well as in confirming the age boundary of qualitative changes in reflection by psychophysiological indicators. The results showed the strongest effect of reflection on the central nervous system in subjects over the age of 22. This condition is characterized by a decrease in power in the lower band of the theta rhythm (4–5.5 Hz) and an increase in power in the upper band of the theta rhythm (7–8 Hz), as well as an increase in power in the lower band of the alpha rhythm (8–9.5 Hz) and beta rhythm (14–20 Hz). In contrast, younger participants (18–21 years) primarily show an increase in lower alpha rhythm power (8–9.5 Hz), which is associated with outward-directed intellectual activity, particularly attention processes.