Role of Reverse Afferentation in Cognitive Activity
Any stage of thought implementation is continuously evaluated by the central nervous system. Whether this stage is a specific physical action or an exclusively dynamic process within the brain itself, the mechanism of reverse afferentation is utilized for its control.
Incoming feedback signals are distributed through several main channels that ensure comprehensive control over thinking:
- Acoustic channels (evaluation of the sound parameters of speech).
- Visual channels (visual monitoring of results).
- Kinesthetic channels (information from the muscle-articular apparatus).
- Intracerebral mechanisms (deep evaluation of processes directly within brain structures).
Structure of Self-Regulation: System Quanta
In normal physiology, cognitive activity is viewed through the lens of so-called system quanta. Each such system quantum has a strict structure and necessarily includes two interconnected links of self-regulation: internal and external. Only their joint work allows a person to fully form a thought and embody it in reality.
Internal Link of Self-Regulation
The internal link is responsible for the hidden, invisible processes of thought formation. First and foremost, it determines the progression of inner speech. The basis for the development of this link is provided by memory mechanisms and the brain's ability to operate with an informational integral — the so-called internal "Self".
Results of inner speech activity:
- Formation of semantic concepts (adequately reflecting real objects of the surrounding world and relationships between them).
- Selection of anchor words.
- Fixation of the results of mathematical and other logical operations.
Despite being hidden, this process has clear physiological manifestations. Internal thought may be accompanied by micro-contractions of the vocal and oral muscles, changes in breathing rhythm, and various somatovegetative reactions.
The leading mechanism for organizing the internal link is also reverse afferentation. Signals enter the central nervous system from muscles and vocal cords, as well as from specialized brain centers. These exact centers are responsible for the final emotional and semantic evaluation of the outcome achieved in thought.
External Link of Self-Regulation
The primary function of the external link is the direct formation of speech, i.e., turning internal thought into an oral or written verbal phrase.
Numerous executive components are engaged to realize this function:
- General motor reactions: posture changes, gestures, active facial expressions, eye movements.
- Vocal reactions: phonation and articulation.
- Autonomic components: restructuring of cardiac activity, changes in breathing patterns, galvanic skin response (sweating).
- Technical tools: using machines, computers, and modern technology (while humans always retain the crucial function of evaluating the final results).
Evaluation of Activity Results
The final evaluation of any muscular or speech act initiated by thought is carried out through a powerful stream of reverse afferentation. The brain receives confirmation signals from a wide range of receptor systems.
| Signal Sources | Localization and Significance |
|---|---|
| Proprioceptors | Evaluate tension in the muscles of the tongue, vocal cords, face, eyes, and the entire body |
| Auditory and visual systems | Monitor the external expression of thought (voice sound, written text) |
| Tactile receptors | Provide information on tissue contact (e.g., during articulation) |
| Oral cavity and respiratory receptors | Evaluate airflow and the position of oral structures during phrase formation |