The first part of the article contains a brief historical background about the main directions of temperament research conducted by foreign and domestic scientists. Particular attention is paid to the methodological principles of modern experimental studies of temperament, formulated by V. D. Nebylitsyn back in the 60s of the last century. In connection with the emergence during this time of new technologies for the experimental study of the properties of the central nervous system as the basic basis of temperament, a new experimental technique is proposed in the work, which is based on the hypothesis of the correlation of some properties of the summary skin potential with the main characteristics of temperament types. The second part of the article, which will appear in the next issue of the journal, will present the first results of an experiment using summary skin potential as an indicator that correlates with at least some types of temperament.

The second part of the article contains a description of the methodology and results of the search experiment, which tested the hypothesis of using a new psychophysiological indicator — summery skin potential — for diagnosing the type of temperament. To do this, first, using the Eysenck verbal test, the type of temperament of each subject was determined, then his summery skin potential was recorded, 6 parameters of which were calculated using a special algorithm. Based on the total estimates of all parameters, 2 groups of temperaments were identified, differing in the magnitude and signs of Z-scores: phlegmatic-melancholic (negative Z) and sanguine-choleric (positive Z). In the Eysenck test, these same groups differed only on the basis of extraversion-introversion. Since several parameters of the total skin potential turned out to be, at least at a qualitative level, sensitive to the basic 4 types of temperament, in the future it is planned to continue the study on a larger sample of subjects to quantitatively substantiate the hypothesis.

The article discusses the results of studying the cognitive activity of students of the lyceum. The psychological factors involved in the interaction of attention stability and speed of thinking, as well as types of temperaments of students (melancholic type of temperament, sanguine type of temperament, phlegmatic type of temperament, choleric type of temperament) are analyzed. The characteristics considered are of interest to psychologists, doctors, teachers and other specialists involved in the educational process.