Today, on December 13, 2022, practical psychologists of the PD and PEP Center conducted communication activities in the form of a lesson with servicemen on the diagnosis and development of cognitive functions (memory, attention, thinking).

The following methods were used:

• assessment of cognitive functions - MMSE;
• Schulte tables;
• "Memorization of 10 words" technique (A.R. Luria).
• Munsterberg's methodology.

These methods were selected to work with military personnel who suffered brain contusion, intracranial hemorrhage, TBI, TBI, stroke, constant stress, lack of sleep, or inadequacy as a result of combat operations.

These injuries, as well as their association with chronic stress, cause cognitive disorders.

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                             The disorders are manifested in the form of

• reduced selectivity of visual perception;
• decreased sustainability of voluntary attention;
• decreased concentration of attention;
• decreased mental performance;
• ability to learn;
• memorization of information;
• focusing attention and expressing one's opinion;
• the ability to be critical of one's own mistakes.

A good memory is essential in the modern rhythm of life, but stressful situations worsen it. It all starts with the smallest things - forgetting dates or names. If you don't take steps to improve your memory and attention, the problem gets worse. Mild absent-mindedness develops into forgetfulness when it is difficult to recall certain events that have occurred.

In general, any person has a lot of information in their memory, starting from childhood. These are tastes, flavors and smells, sounds and images, specific people, and different situations. Our memory works according to the principle of receiving information, processing and consolidating it and reading information from memory. It's a kind of three connecting links, and if one of them is weakened, the memory stops working in an enhanced and efficient mode.

It is necessary to develop memory along with attention, as this is the key to the success of memorizing a large amount of information.

With the help of the Munsterberg technique, you can diagnose the selectivity of visual perception and the stability of voluntary attention, as well as use it as a simulator for the development of these cognitive functions.

Schulte tables - exercises with tables can improve peripheral visual perception, which is important, for example, for speed reading, for which it is important not only to memorize and correctly reproduce numbers but also to do it as quickly as possible. Classes with such techniques are great for visual people.  

The methods we use allow us to obtain not only diagnostic but also prognostic material for planning further work on the development and improvement of cognitive functions in military personnel.