Experimental studies have demonstrated that the formation of the state of optimum working ability in conditions of monotonous activity is associated with a decrease (compared to the rest state) in the level of "preventive" arousal of the CNS, manifest on the EEG as an increase in the power of slow rhythms on the background of a selective increase in the level of coherence at frequencies in the alpha rhythm in the caudal areas of the cortex. Prolonged exposure to monotonous conditions leads to increases in the power of slow (theta and alpha(1)) and beta frequencies in the EEG spectrum without marked changes in the level of coherence. Our results, along with published data, were used to propose the hypothesis that unlike the basic states of the sleep-waking cycle (sleep, rest, active waking, etc.), the state of monotony lacks intrinsic ("built-in") self-regulatory mechanisms; this results in instability in the operation of the regulatory systems of the brain. This leads to the appearance of marked periodicity in changes in both the functional state of the CNS and the quality of work performed by humans.

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Neural oscillations of the mammalian olfactory system have been studied for decades. This research suggests they are linked to various processes involved in odor information analysis, depending on the vigilance state and presentation of stimuli. In addition, the effects of various anesthetics, including commonly used ones like chloral hydrate, pentobarbital,ketamine, and urethane, on the local field potential (LFP) in the olfactory bulb (OB) have been studied. In particular, the combination of xylazine and tiletamine–zolazepam has been shown to produce steady anesthesia for an extended period and relatively few adverse effects; however, their effects on the LFP in the OB remain unknown. To study those effects,we recorded the LFP in the OB of rats under xylazine–tiletamine–zolazepam anesthesia. During the period of anesthesia,the spectral powers of the 1–4, 9–16, 31–64, 65–90 frequency bands increased significantly, and that of 91–170 Hz frequency band decreased significantly, whereas no significant changes were observed in the 5–8 and 17–30 Hz ranges. These results reveal dynamic changes in the time and frequency characteristics of the LFP in the OB of rats under xylazine–tiletamine–zolazepam anesthesia and suggest that this combination of anesthetics could be used for studying oscillatory processesin the OB of rats.

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In the context of the COVID pandemic, there has dramatically increased the significance of distance learning technologies. Higher education will most probably increase their usage even after overcoming the coronavirus. This paper aims at assessing Russian university students’ readiness to exercise distance learning technologies. The survey within Rostov-on-Don universities provided data on 428 students’ skills in using Internet technologies when studying. It is shown that in the pre-pandemic period, no more than a quarter of students had the necessary skills to participate in video conferences, and about 16 % of students took online courses autonomously. Only 6,5 % of the respondents could manage both technologies that comprise distance learning. The results obtained on the relationship between academic performance and self-participation in online courses, as well as on the relationship of these indicators with general digital literacy and immersion in social networks, should be taken into account within wide computerization of education during the pandemic.