[Visual set and shifting of selective attention in 8-year-old children with EEG-signs of immaturity of fronto-thalamic and brainstem activating systems].

Visual set (by D.N.Uznadze) was studied in three groups of 8-year-old children: children with EEG-signs of immaturity of fronto-thalamic activation system; children with a deficit of non-specific activation from mesencephalic reticular formation; children with normal development of these systems (control group). Children with a deficit of non-specific activation split in two groups: one group was similar to the control group in set-forming, set-shifting and response time dynamics; another group haven't displayed a set actualization stage and had a considerably bigger response time during attention shifting. Children with immaturity of fronto-thalamic system, when compared to the control group, had considerably more contrast illusions at set-testing stage and considerably bigger response time during attention shifting at set actualization stage. These data suggest a participation of fronto-thalamic system in set-forming and set-shifting.