Science for Education Today, 2020, vol. 10, no. 6, pp. 40–54
UDC: 
612+373

Peculiarities of the influence of autonomic state on academic performance depending on the evaluation system

Val'kova N. Y. 1 (Archangelsk, Russian Federation), Komarovskaya E. V. 2 (Severodvinsk, Russian Federation)
1 Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M.V. Lomonosov
2 Institute of Humanities, Severodvinsk branch of the Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M.V. Lomonosov
Abstract: 

Introduction. Academic performance is a criterion of adaptation to the learning environment and depends on individual and typological characteristics of the effects of the autonomous system on the activity. Different evaluation systems characterize different facets of learning capacity.
The purpose of this research is to identify the properties of the effects of the autonomous system on schoolchildren’s academic performance using traditional evaluation system and paired-comparison method.
Materials and Methods. The sample consisted of 30 eleventh year students of a comprehensive secondary school. Autonomic regulation was assessed using a questionnaire. Academic performance was measured retrospectively using two methods. The results of continuous academic assessment during the Year 9 were analyzed. At the end of the school year the teacher evaluated academic performance using a paired-comparison method. Data were processed using cluster analysis.
Results. The findings suggest that regardless of the evaluation system, academic performance is more determined by the functional condition of the sympathetic divisions which are responsible for actions requiring quick responses than by parasympathetic divisions which are associated with automatic activity in ‘rest’ conditions.
Evaluation conducted by means of paired-comparison method has shown correlations between academic performance and intensity of sympathicotonia. Students with average sympathicotonia demonstrated below average level of academic achievements. Above average level of performance was shown in students with maximal or minimal sympathicotonia intensity depending on the discipline.
The authors believe that paired-comparison method of evaluation is accompanied by including not only the performance but its physiological cost as well. It is expressed in the correlation between the academic performance and intensity of sympathicotonia which is demonstrated in tension or anxiety.
Conclusions. The study concludes that the peculiarities of the effects of the autonomous system on schoolchildren’s academic performance when using paired-comparison method include the correlation between the academic performance and functional status of autonomous regulation segmental mechanisms with greatest impact being made by intensity of sympathicotonia.

Keywords: 
For citation:
Val'kova N. Y., Komarovskaya E. V. Peculiarities of the influence of autonomic state on academic performance depending on the evaluation system. Science for Education Today, 2020, vol. 10, no. 6, pp. 40–54. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15293/2658-6762.2006.03
References: 
  1. Alyushin M. V., Kolobashkina L. V. Monitoring of the current status of students as a means of increasing the effectiveness of educational process. The Education and Science Journal, 2019, vol. 21 (2), pp. 176–197. (In Russian) DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17853/1994-5639-2019-2-176-197 URL: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=37057224
  2. Apatova N. V., Gaponov A. I. Ranking of students in accordance with the level of creative potential based on the method of the hierarchy analysis method and the fuzzy sets theory. Perspectives of Science & Education, 2019, no. 4, pp. 484–496. (In Russian) DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.32744/pse.2019.4.37 URL: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=39544384
  3. Duryagina E. G. Study of subjective comfort of students within the examination period. Perspectives of Science & Education, 2019, no. (1), pp. 290–300. (In Russian) DOI:  http://dx.doi.org/10.32744/pse.2019.1.21 URL: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=36996163
  4. Emelyanova I. N., Teplyakova O. A., Efimova G. Z. Modern evaluation methods at various levels of education. The Education and Science Journal, 2019, vol. 21 (6), pp. 9–28. (In Russian) DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17853/1994-5639-2019-6-9-28 URL: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=38468177
  5. Ermakova I. V., Dogadkina S. B., Rubleva L. V., Kmit G. V., Bezobrazova V. N., Sharapov A. N. Adaptation of cardiovascular system, autonomous nervous regulation of heart rate and endocrine system to different types of loads in 10–15-year-old schoolchildren: Characteristic features. Science for Education Today, 2019, vol. 9 (5), pp. 176–204. (In Russian) DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15293/2658-6762.1905.11 URL: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=41271748
  6. Kazin E. M., Ivanov V. I., Litvinova N. A., Berezina M. G., Goldschmidt E. S., Prokhorova A. M. Influence of psychophysiological potential on adaptation to educational activity. Human Physiology, 2002, vol. 28 (3), pp. 23–29. (In Russian) URL: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=29843234
  7. Krivolapchuck I. A., Chernova M. B., Savushkina E. V. Characteristics of psychophysiological reactivity of children aged 5–6 and 6–8 years during intellectual, sensomotor and physical challenges. Science for Education Today, 2020, vol. 10 (3), pp. 179–195. (In Russian) DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15293/2658-6762.2003.10 URL: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=43091316
  8. Ryabova I. V., Sobolevskaya T. A., Stepanov S. Y., Semenova E. N. Health of a schoolchild as a factor for success or underachievement in learning. Sanitary Doctor, 2018, no. 12, pp. 21–26. (In Russian) URL:https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=36511451
  9. Aimé A., Villatte A., Cyr C., Marcotte D. Can weight predict academic performance in college students? An analysis of college women's self-efficacy, absenteeism, and depressive symptoms as mediators. Journal of American College Health, 2017, vol. 65 (3), pp. 168–176. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2016.1266639 
  10. Ange B., Wood E. A., Thomas A., Wallach P. M. Differences in medical students' academic performance between a pass/fail and tiered grading system. Southern Medical Journal, 2018, vol.  111 (11), pp. 683–687. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14423/SMJ.0000000000000884
  11. Beltrán-Velasco A. I., Ruisoto-Palomera P., Bellido-Esteban A., García-Mateos M., Clemente-suárez analysis of psychophysiological stress response in higher education students undergoing clinical practice evaluation. Journal of Medical Systems, 2019, vol. 43, pp. 68. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-019-1187-7
  12. Bush N. R., Caron Z. K., Blackburn K. S., Alkon A. measuring cardiac autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity in toddlers – resting and developmental challenges. Journal of Visualized Experiments, 2016, vol. 108, pp. 53652. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3791/53652
  13. Calenda M., Tammaro R. The assessment of learning: From competence to new evaluation. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2015, vol. 174, pp. 3885–3892. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.01.1129
  14. Castilla N., Llinares C., Bravo J. M., Blanca V. Subjective assessment of university classroom environment. Building and Environment, 2017, vol. 122, pp. 72–81. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2017.06.004
  15. Cleland J., Cilliers F., van Schalkwyk S. The learning environment in remediation: A review. Clinical Teacher, 2018, vol. 15 (1), pp. 13–18. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/tct.12739
  16. Cvejic E., Huang S., Vollmer-Conna U. Can you snooze your way to an 'A'? Exploring the complex relationship between sleep, autonomic activity, wellbeing and performance in medical students. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 2018, vol. 52 (1), pp. 39–46. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0004867417716543 
  17. Deuchars S. A, Lall V. K, Clancy J., Mahadi M., Murray A., Peers L., Deuchars J. Mechanisms underpinning sympathetic nervous activity and its modulation using transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation. Experimental Physiology, 2018, vol. 103 (3), pp. 326–331. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1113/EP086433   URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29205954/
  18. Fernandez-Duque D., Baird J. A., Posner M. I. Executive attention and metacognitive regulation. Consciousness and Cognition, 2000, vol. 9 (2), pp. 288–307. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/ccog.2000.0447 
  19. Frazier P., Gabriel A., Merians A., Lust K. Understanding stress as an impediment to academic performance. Journal of American College Health, 2019, vol. 67 (6), pp. 562–570. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2018.1499649  
  20. Guerrero-Roldän A., Noguera I. A model for aligning assessment with competences and learning activities in online courses. The Internet and Higher Education, 2018, vol. 38, pp. 36–46. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/J.IHEDUC.2018.04.005 
  21. Hamilton J. L., Alloy L. B. A typical reactivity of heart rate variability to stress and depression across development: Systematic review of the literature and directions for future research. Clinical Psychology Review, 2016, vol. 50, pp. 67–79. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2016.09.003
  22. Howie E. K., Joosten J., Harris C. J., Straker L. M. Associations between meeting sleep, physical activity or screen time behaviour guidelines and academic performance in Australian school children. BMC Public Health, 2020, vol. 20 (1), pp. 520. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-08620-w
  23. Huang X., Zeng N., Ye S.  Associations of sedentary behavior with physical fitness and academic performance among Chinese students aged 8-19 years. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2019, vol. 16 (22), pp. 4494. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16224494  
  24. Masud S., Mufarrih S. H., Qureshi N. Q., Khan F., Khan S., Khan M. N. Academic performance in adolescent students: The role of parenting styles and socio-demographic factors - a cross sectional study from Peshawar, Pakistan. Frontiers in Physiology, 2019, vol. 10, pp. 2497 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02497 
  25. Prichard J. R. Sleep predicts collegiate academic performance: implications for equity in student retention and success. Sleep Medicine Clinics, 2020, vol. 15 (1), pp. 59–69. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsmc.2019.10.003 
  26. Ramírez-Adrados A., Beltrán-Velasco A. I., Gonzalez-de-Ramos C., Fernández-Martínez S., Martínez-Pascual B., Fernández-Elías V. E., Clemente-Suárez V. J. The effect of final dissertation defense language, native vs. non-native, in the psychophysiological stress response of university students. Physiology and Behavior, 2020, vol. 224, pp. 113043. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.113043  
  27. Roy H. A., Green A. L. The Central autonomic network and regulation of bladder function. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 2019, vol. 13, pp. 535. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2019.00535
  28. Rudd K. L., Yates T. M. The implications of sympathetic and parasympathetic regulatory coordination for understanding child adjustment. Developmental Psychobiology, 2018, vol. 60 (8), pp. 1023–1036. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/dev.21784  URL:  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30370630/
  29. Twilhaar E. S., de Kieviet J. F., Aarnoudse-Moens C. Sh., van Elburg R. M., Oosterlaan J. Academic performance of children born preterm: A meta-analysis and meta-regression. Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition, 2017, vol. 103 (4), pp. 322–330. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2017-312916 
  30. Wang X., Liu B., Xie L., Yu X., Li M., Zhang J. Cerebral and neural regulation of cardiovascular activity during mental stress. BioMedical Engineering OnLine, 2016, vol. 15 (S2), pp. 160. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12938-016-0255-1
  31. Zhai X., Ye M., Gu Q., Huang T., Wang K., Chen Z., Fan X. The relationship between physical fitness and academic performance among Chinese college students. Journal of American College Health, 2020, pp. 1–9. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2020.1751643 
  32. Ziemssen T., Siepmann T. The Investigation of the cardiovascular and sudomotor autonomic nervous system. Frontiers in Neurology, 2019, vol. 10, pp. 53. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2019.00053
Date of the publication 31.12.2020