Features of neurovegetative and humoral regulation of cognitive activity in adolescents when using electronic devices

Abstract

Background. Studying the functional state of the body of adolescents when they preform cognitive activity using electronic devices is of great importance due to the introduction of information and computer technologies into the educational process. Identifying the characteristics of the reactivity of students’ bodies when performing cognitive activities in  a  digital environment will contribute to  both optimization of learning and health protection.The aim. To study the autonomic regulation of heart rate, electrodermal activity, cerebral circulation and the level of cortisol in saliva when adolescents performed a cognitive test on electronic devices (tablet, laptop) and on paper.Materials and  methods. Using analysis of heart rate variability, electrodermal activity, rheoencephalography and enzyme-linked immunosorbent determination of cortisol in saliva, цe examined 48 adolescents while performing a cognitive activity on electronic devices.Results. When adolescents perform cognitive activity using electronic devices, we can register changes in heart rate variability, electrodermal activity and cerebral circulation. Cognitive activity in a digital environment causes an increase in sympathetic effect ontheheart rate with adecrease inparasympathetic activity, anincrease inthe integrative indicator ofgalvanic skin response, invascular tone and adecrease in the cerebral blood flow intensity. One in four adolescents experiences anticipatory stimulation of the endocrine system before taking a cognitive test. Correlation analysis revealed alarge number of correlations between the studied indicators both in the initial state and during cognitive activity.Conclusion. A large number of correlations, both in the initial state and during the cognitive test, between heart rate variability and cortisol concentration, cerebral circulation parameters indicate the preservation of a rigid system of neurovegetative and humoral regulation of heart rate when using electronic devices compared to paper-based media.