[The age of 40].

Formation of scientific researches program of the Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology of the USSR Academy of Sciences from the moment of its foundation in 1951 till the present time is considered as a result of creative interaction and inter-enrichment of three scientific schools connected with the names of E. A. Asratian, M. N. Livanov and V. S. Rusinov. The systemic principle in the integrative brain activity, the dominant phenomenon and the idea on spatial synchronization of the electrical processes in various cerebral micro- and macrostructures at the elaboration of conditioned reflex became a basis of long-term strategy of studies of the human and animals higher nervous activity. At the present time these studies embrace two main trends: mechanisms of learning and memory and neurophysiological bases of consciousness.