Comparative Characteristics of EEG Frequency Bands and Cerebral Energy Exchange at a Low Level of Psychophysiological Adaptation in Employees of Nuclear Hazardous Enterprises and Productions

Purpose: Comparative assessment of the functional state and energy processes of the brain in workers of nuclear hazardous enterprises and industries with high and low levels of psychophysiological adaptation (PPA). The parameters of the spectral power of the EEG frequency ranges and cerebral energy exchange at low and high levels of PPA, low and high functional activity (FA) of conditionally isolated structural and functional formations (SFF) characterizing: mental level of functioning − SFF-1, psychophysiological level − SFF-2, physiological − SFF-3 were compared.

Material and methods: 311 archived EEG – 159 individuals with a low level of PPA (50.8±4.6; 13 women); 152 EEG individuals with a high level of PPA (48.8±1.5; 12 women). The power of the frequency ranges of the EEG was evaluated by computer analysis using the fast Fourier transform algorithm; cerebral energy exchange using the value of the hemispheric differences in the power of biopotentials of EEG homologous leads.

Results: At a low level of PPA, higher activity of cortical structures and higher cerebral energy exchange were revealed. In the SFF the changes manifested themselves in different ways. Increased activity of cortical structures was noted in SFF-1 and SFF-3 (in all areas of the cortex, including temporal, associated with the limbic-reticular complex). In SFF-2, the activity of cortical structures weakened both in the anterior and posterior parts of the cortex, the activity of the temporal zones did not change. Increased cerebral energy exchange was noted in SFF-1 and SFF-2. It was detected in the anterior parts of the cortex, and was not detected in the posterior. In SFF-3, the cerebral energy exchange did not change – neither in the anterior nor posterior parts of the cortex.

Conclusion: Various SFF of the brain take part in ensuring brain activity at a low level of PPA, which is reflected in the characteristics of EEG frequency spectra and indicators of cerebral energy exchange of the brain regions concerned. The processes associated with the participation of structural and functional education reflecting the mental level of functioning (SFF-1) are characterized at a low level of PPA by increased activity of the anterior cortex, which is accompanied by increased cerebral energy exchange. The deepening of research in this direction may contribute to the identification of additional compensatory mechanisms of the brain aimed at ensuring the functional activity required for the exercise of professional activity by persons with a low level of PPA.