ANATOMY OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM IN THE CONTEXT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL COGNITION: CONTEMPORARY APPROACHES

Abstract

The article discusses modern approaches to the study of the anatomy of the nervous system in the context of psychological cognition. Emphasis is placed on the interdisciplinary nature of the analysis of the structure and functions of the central and peripheral nervous systems as the basis for the formation of mental processes. The focus is on the structural and functional characteristics of the central nervous system that support cognitive processes: perception, attention, memory, speech, thinking, consciousness, and emotional-volitional regulation. The main provisions of modern cognitive neuroscience regarding the brain determination of cognitive activity are summarized, and the feasibility of integrating neuroanatomical knowledge into psychological science is substantiated. The contribution of Western and Ukrainian research to the understanding of the functional specialization of brain structures, in particular the frontal cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, amygdala, as well as the mechanisms of interhemispheric interaction, is outlined. It looks at modern neuroimaging methods (fMRI, EEG, PET) that let us study cognitive activity in real time. It pays special attention to psychological cognition as a function of complex neural networks. The applied significance of anatomical knowledge in psychological practice, both clinical and non- clinical, is substantiated. It is shown that knowledge of the anatomy of the nervous system is critically important in clinical and rehabilitation psychology, neuropsychology, as well as in applied fields, in particular neuromarketing. The practical value of the neuropsychological approach for diagnosis, psychocorrection, and support of neuroplastic changes after brain damage is substantiated. It is emphasized that the integration of the anatomical approach into psychological research contributes to a better understanding of the nature of consciousness, personal dynamics, and adaptation mechanisms. The proposed review contributes to the deepening of knowledge integration between biological and psychological sciences in the study of the nature of human thinking. The material of the article may be useful for specialists in the fields of psychology, neuroscience, pedagogy, and medicine. The results obtained can be used in the training of specialists in the fields of medical psychology, neuropsychology, psychophysiology, etc.