Human Labor Activity

Neurophysiological foundations and dynamics of consciousness

Any conscious activity, including labor, is based on fundamental mechanisms of brain function. First of all, memory processes are activated—both genetically determined and individually acquired throughout life. The brain triggers dynamically and rigidly organized dynamic stereotypes, which allow learned actions to be performed automatically.

A key role is played by dominant motivation. It not only mobilizes memory and negative emotions (in case of an unsatisfied need), but also forms a forward-looking reflection of reality—optimizing upcoming events. Images of objects and options for interacting with them are retrieved from memory.

The dynamics of consciousness is provided by the mechanism of feedback (reverse afferentation). Two information flows are continuously compared in the central nervous system: the parameters of the internal need and environmental factors. As a result of this integration, an understanding of the subjective "I" and the surrounding "not-I" is formed, giving a person the ability to actively interact with reality.

From the perspective of the theory of functional systems, consciousness is inextricably linked with intelligence and represents the process of comparing current reality with past experience stored in the action result acceptor. There are two main forms of consciousness: emotional (based on experiences) and higher verbal, which is inherent exclusively to humans.

Structure of the production process

From the perspective of normal physiology, the labor process is not monolithic. It is broken down into separate result-oriented segments called systemquants. Each such segment necessarily culminates in the achievement of an intermediate or final socially significant production result.

The evaluation of an employee's physiological functions must be carried out directly in the conditions of real activity. The main criterion here is how well the physiological costs of the body (energy, neural, muscular) correspond to the obtained result.

Such a systemic approach is of enormous practical importance:

• It allows calculating the "physiological cost" of each individual system quantum.
• It makes it possible to proactively identify the most strenuous stages of work that can lead to fatigue or pronounced psycho-emotional stress, and to carry out appropriate prevention.

Types of labor: conventionality of classification

Traditionally, production activity is divided into physical and mental labor. However, physiologists emphasize the absolute conventionality of this division. Any heavy physical work is impossible without the participation of cognitive (mental) control mechanisms, and mental labor often requires muscular activity (for example, fine motor skills of an operator or surgeon).

Physical labor is classified by the nature of muscular work:

1. Dynamic work: associated with the active movement of objects, loads, or control elements in space. It is carried out through pronounced isotonic muscular efforts.
2. Static work: based on the isometric contraction of muscle fibers. In this case, the load or the body does not move in space, but the muscles experience constant strain (for example, maintaining a forced posture or holding a heavy weight).

Mental labor is characterized by the predominance of other components: it is based on intensive mental activity and a pronounced emotional component.

Factors of the labor process affecting the body

The state of an employee's physiological systems during the performance of production tasks is influenced by a whole complex of factors. Taking them into account is necessary for organizing safe and efficient labor.

The main factors include:

• Work motivation — determines the level of involvement and mobilization of the body's reserves.
• Stereotypically repeating activity — forms stable connections in the central nervous system, but can lead to a decrease in attention.
• Forced working posture — provokes static loads on the musculoskeletal system.
• Increased load on sense organs — the visual analyzer suffers particularly often.
• Monotony — uniformity of actions that suppresses the activity of the nervous system.
• Hypokinesia — a deficit of general motor activity (particularly characteristic of mental labor).
• Psycho-emotional stress — occurs with high responsibility or time pressure.
• Action of environmental factors — temperature, noise, illumination, and other external parameters of the workplace.

Briefly: answers to topical questions

Class and exam questions

What else to study on this topic

• Mechanisms of formation and restructuring of dynamic stereotypes during a profession change.
• The role of feedback in the correction of labor actions.
• The impact of monotony and hypokinesia on the development of occupational fatigue.
• Information parameters of need and their influence on work motivation.

Other topics in the section "Human Labor Activity"

Prepared by WhiteCoat Pro faculty in accordance with the medical school curriculum. For educational purposes only.