V Conference “Human Abilities and Resources in a Changing World” (IP RAS, September 2025) as a turning point in the development of the psychology of abilities

Objective. This article aims to analyze the outcomes and thematic content of the V International Scientific Conference “Human Abilities and Resources in a Changing World” (Institute of Psychology RAS, September 2025) as a pivotal event reflecting the current state and future directions in the psychology of abilities. Methods. The analysis is based on a comprehensive review of the conference proceedings, which included 208 presentations. Methods of systematic and thematic categorization were employed to identify dominant research trends, interdisciplinary connections, and emerging scientific vectors. An assessment of the current state of the field was also supported by an analysis of dialogues with a large language model (DeepSeek AI). Results. The conference demonstrated wide interdisciplinary engagement (nine scientific fields) and full national coverage of Russia’s regions. Thematic analysis revealed a clear paradigm shift from static to dynamic, integrative models of abilities. Key research clusters were identified: (1) the study of social/spiritual giftedness and coping intelligence; (2) neurobiological and genetic foundations of individual differences; (3) the impact of digitalization and AI on cognition. The conference outlined prospective breakthrough directions, including neurointerfaces, the epigenetics of abilities, and the psychology of human-machine teams. A critical re-evaluation of traditional diagnostic methods in favor of context-sensitive tools was also highlighted. Conclusion. The conference served as a significant milestone, consolidating the field’s movement toward greater integration, technological advancement, and a holistic understanding of human potential. Based on the analysis, specific problem areas (theoretical, diagnostic, practical) were systematized, and a set of precise goals and hypotheses for future empirical research was formulated, charting a course for the further development of the psychology of abilities.

Целью данной статьи является анализ итогов V Международной научной конференции “Способности и ресурсы человека в меняющемся мире” (Институт психологии РАН, сентябрь 2025 г.) как ключевого мероприятия, отражающего текущее состояние и будущие направления в психологии способностей. Методы. Анализ основан на всестороннем изучении материалов конференции. Для выявления доминирующих направлений исследований, междисциплинарных связей и новых научных направлений были использованы методы систематического анализа и тематической категоризации. Оценка текущего состояния отрасли также была подкреплена анализом диалогов с использованием большой языковой модели DeepSeek AI. Результаты. Конференция продемонстрировала широкое междисциплинарное взаимодействие (девять научных областей) и полный национальный охват регионов России. Тематический анализ выявил явный сдвиг парадигмы от статических к динамическим, интегративным моделям способностей. Были определены ключевые исследовательские направления: (1) изучение социальной/духовной одаренности и совладающего интеллекта; (2) нейробиологические и генетические основы индивидуальных различий; (3) влияние цифровизации и искусственного интеллекта на когнитивные способности. На конференции были обозначены перспективные прорывные направления: нейроинтерфейсы, эпигенетика способностей и психология человеко-машинных команд. Отмечена критическая переоценка традиционных методов диагностики в пользу контекстно-зависимых инструментов. Заключение. Конференция стала важной вехой, закрепившей движение отрасли в направлении большей междисциплинарной интеграции и целостного понимания человеческого потенциала. На основе проведенного анализа были систематизированы конкретные проблемные области (теоретические, диагностические, практические) и сформулирован ряд целей и гипотез для будущих эмпирических исследований, определяющих курс дальнейшего развития психологии способностей.

Ключевые слова: способности, интеллект, креативность, одаренность, совладающий интеллект, духовные способности, когнитивные стили, нейробиология познания, искусственный интеллект, междисциплинарные исследования, В.Н. Дружинин

Introduction

The V conference “Human Abilities and Resources in a Changing World”, dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the birth of V.N. Druzhinin, was held in September 2025 at the Institute of Psychology of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The conference was attended by researchers from 49 cities, who presented 208 reports. Among the participants were academicians of the Russian Academy of Sciences A.L. Zhuravlev, D.V. Ushakov, and corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences M.L. Butovskaya; academicians of the Russian Academy of Education P.N. Ermakov, S.B. Malykh, and corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Education E.K. Khusnutdinova; as well as 78 doctors and 125 candidates of science from nine fields: psychology, biology, pedagogy, medicine, physics and mathematics, technology, history, philosophy, and philology (Table 1). The composition of the conference participants demonstrates the interdisciplinary nature of research into human abilities and resources, as well as the high level and scientific significance of the presented papers. More than a third of the attendees are young researchers and practitioners, which indicates both the potential for future research and its practical relevance. Reflecting the conference’s theme, psychologists constituted the core group, representing over 60% of all attendees.

Table 1. Number of conference participants with academic degrees from different fields of sciences

1.1. The general features of the scientific event and organizational structure

The conference brought together researchers from leading scientific and educational centers of Russia. Academic Science (Institute of Psychology, Miklukho-Maklay Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Koltsov Institute of Developmental Biology, Papanin Institute for Biology of Inland Waters, Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics, Institute of Genetics and Cytology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus), scientific centers (Federal Scientific Center for Psychological and Interdisciplinary Research, Scientific Center for Mental Health, Institute of Biochemistry and Genetics (Ufa Federal Research Center of the RAS), National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”) and classical universities (Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow State Psychological and Pedagogical University, National Research University Higher School of Economics, St. Petersburg State University, etc.) form the core of the conference, which emphasizes the academic nature of the event.

The regional hubs showcase a robust presence: Yaroslavl (Demidov Yaroslavl State University, Ushinsky Yaroslavl State Pedagogical University), Saratov (Saratov State University), Rostov-on-Don (Southern Federal University).

In addition to psychological and pedagogical universities, medical institutions (Mental Health Scientific Center, Military Medical Academy, Center of the Ministry of Emergency Situations), biological and genetic institutes (Institute of Genetics and Cytology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Institute of Biochemistry and Genetics of the Ural Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences), technical universities (Don State Technical University, Omsk State Technical University) are actively represented, which at the organizational level indicates the interdisciplinary nature of the event.

The conference followed a traditional format, with a plenary session, 12 parallel sessions, poster section, a masterclass titled «The State Public Scientific and Technical Library of Russia as a Gateway to Scientific and Technical Information: New Perspectives», an evening lecture, and a roundtable talk, culminating in a formal closing ceremony. During the conference, a film studio was set up, where each participant had the opportunity to share their memories into their encounters and collaborations with V.N. Druzhinin.

1.2. Geographical representation of participants

The participants’ geography covers all federal districts of Russia:

Central Federal District – Moscow (98), Yaroslavl (14), Kostroma (3), Ivanovo (3), Kursk (3), Voronezh (3), Smolensk (3), Lipetsk (1), Tver (1), Orekhovo-Zuyevo (2);

Northwestern Federal District – Saint Petersburg (18), Veliky Novgorod (2), Petrozavodsk (1), Severomorsk (1);

Southern Federal District – Rostov-on-Don (6), Krasnodar (1), Volgograd (1), Astrakhan (1);

Volga Federal District – Kazan (7), Saratov (7), Nizhny Novgorod (3), Perm (3), Ufa (3), Izhevsk (2), Samara (2), Penza (1), Kirov (1);

Ural Federal District – Yekaterinburg (5), Tyumen (3), Chelyabinsk (3);

Siberian Federal District – Novosibirsk (3), Omsk (3), Krasnoyarsk (2), Kemerovo (2), Irkutsk (3), Barnaul (4);

Far Eastern Federal District – Vladivostok (2), Yakutsk (2), Khabarovsk (1).

International representation is modest, primarily from Belarus (9), Armenia (2), Uzbekistan (1), China (1), and Canada (1).

The event was a truly national affair, with representatives from all eight federal districts of Russia, including the remote regions of the Far East and Siberia. The most active cities, apart from Moscow, were major metropolitan areas and administrative centers, such as Saint Petersburg (18), Kazan (7), Saratov (7), Rostov-on-Don (6), and Yekaterinburg (5). The event was also well-represented at the regional level. Many regional centers were represented by a small yet similar number of participants, ranging from 1 to 4. This suggests that the event was interesting and accessible to residents across the country. International participation was largely symbolic. The main international participants were from CIS countries. The leader in this regard was Belarus (9). The sanctions imposed against Russia have limited the opportunities for foreign researchers to attend the conference.

Method

Methods for critically examining the scholarly papers (Volkova et. al., Eds, 2025) presented at the conference:

• system analysis,
• thematic categorization,
• exploring interdisciplinary relationships and identifying emerging trends in the field of psychology of abilities.
• Deepseek AI was employed to assess the current state of research in the area of aptitude psychology (https://chat.deepseek.com/, 09.2025).

Results

Let us now explore the key scientific fields and trends highlighted in the conference presentations.

3.1. Plenary Session

The plenary session featured reports by D.V. Ushakov and A.L. Zhuravlev, which highlighted the significance of V.N. Druzhinin’s ideas and personal legacy for the development of modern psychology. V.N. Druzhinin’s name is rightfully associated with an entire era in the study of abilities, intelligence, and creativity. His innovative theoretical frameworks – the concept of abilities as a “cognitive resource,” the model of the “intellectual range,” and the situational approach to psychodiagnostics – helped overcome the limitations of traditional correlation-based paradigms and opened new horizons for research. He viewed abilities not as a static set of traits but as a dynamic system mobilized within the context of real-life activities, thereby laying the foundation for the resource-oriented approach, which remains highly relevant today. The remarkable breadth of Vladimir Nikolaevich’s scientific interests was emphasized. His works, distinguished by their theoretical depth, methodological rigor, and consistent focus on the unity of theory, experiment, and practice, have become fundamental guides for several generations of psychologists. The conference stands as a fitting tribute to the memory of Vladimir Nikolaevich Druzhinin – a teacher and scholar whose work continues to illuminate the path toward new scientific discoveries.

A.V. Karpov in his report “The Specifics of Cognitive Abilities Genesis in the Context of Digitalization” demonstrates that the traditional thesis of ability development through activity takes on a paradoxical character in the digital age. On the one hand, information-related activity necessitates and cultivates specific “digital” abilities. On the other hand, it leads to a syndrome of diminished cognition (e.g., clip thinking, superficiality). However, the author argues that this phenomenon constitutes not a degradation but a qualitative adaptive transformation of the mind. Within this framework, the development of abilities is manifested not in the growth of their traditional metrics, but in the emergence of new forms of thinking and operational efficiency that are more suited to the digital environment. This conclusion necessitates a re-evaluation of classical approaches to understanding and diagnosing cognitive abilities.

O.P. Kuznetsov in his report “The Problem of Understanding and Artificial Intelligence” emphasizes that the problem of understanding is a key and unresolved obstacle on the path to creating strong artificial intelligence. Understanding is interpreted not as information processing, but as an active process of interpreting new knowledge through the prism of a subjective worldview. This worldview is formed based on embodied experience, biological goals (the primary one being survival), and social interaction. The scholar argues that contemporary AI systems, being passive data processors, are incapable of genuine understanding. To achieve it, autonomous active agents (robots) possessing their own goals and capable of acting in a physical environment are required. However, the creation of such systems raises complex ethical questions regarding agency and the potential risks of the emergence of unpredictable non-anthropomorphic intelligence.

The report by E.V. Volkova, “State and Prospects for the Development of the Laboratory of Psychology of Abilities: 25 Years Later”, summarized the achievements and outlined the future direction of the V.N. Druzhinin Laboratory of Psychology of Abilities and Mental Resources. The results of the study are presented demonstrating the influence of the BDNF gene genotype, gender, and temperamental intellectual activity on the formation of individual differences in cognitive styles, which allowed us to propose an understanding of cognitive style as an innate functional system for regulating cognitive processes aimed at ensuring the conformity and consistency of cognitive processes with human needs and the requirements of the surrounding world. A new research vector in the study of abilities was announced: planetary architecture of abilities, integrating neurochemical, individual-psychological, sociocultural, and planetary levels. Future prospects for the laboratory’s development were outlined, linked to a paradigm shift from a physical to a chemical worldview and to the active implementation of artificial intelligence and virtual reality tools for investigating and developing human abilities.

3.2. Section sessions, evening lectures, master class and round table talk

12 parallel sessions combined into 6 blocks.

1 block. The theoretical-historical and paradigmatic foundations of ability research provide a robust methodological framework, underscoring the enduring scientific value of past scholarship for addressing contemporary issues. This theme was explored in 23 presentations across two sections: “History of Psychological Research on Abilities and Giftedness” (chaired by A.L. Zhuravlev and A.A. Kostrigin) and “The Search for New Paradigms in the Study of Abilities and Giftedness” (chaired by I.O. Alexandrov). Key outcomes included the historical validation of theoretical constructs, the systematization of methodological approaches, and the analysis of underexplored historical fields such as psychotechnics and pedology.

2 block. The strand dedicated to diagnostics and technologies for ability assessment is distinctly practice-oriented, offering concrete tools for evaluating abilities and resources in real-world settings. This was reflected in 40 presentations across two sections: “Diagnostics of Abilities and Resources: Procedures, Methods, and Digital Technologies” (chaired by A.N. Voronin and E.S. Panfilova) and “Academic and Professional Success: Assessment and Development” (chaired by A.N. Zankovsky and V.A. Tolochek). The reports covered a broad spectrum of topics, ranging from the development of diagnostic instruments to the assessment of professional success, including, for instance, the application of digital technologies for evaluating cognitive functions.

3 block. Intelligence and the cognitive aspects of giftedness were the focal points of two sections: “Intelligence, Cognitive Styles, and Intellectual Giftedness” (chaired by M.A. Kholodnaya) and “Population Studies of Intelligence” (chaired by A.A. Grigoryev, D.S. Grigoryev), which featured 20 presentations. A defining characteristic of these studies was their integrative approach, successfully combining cognitive, stylistic, and population-level perspectives on intelligence. In the domain of population studies, presentations included a critical assessment of using historical literacy rates as an IQ proxy. A significant conclusion from this line of inquiry was that for predicting regional development, average population IQ is a more informative metric than measures of the highly gifted “upper tail.”

4 block. The neurobiological and biochemical foundations of individual differences in abilities and personality traits were explored in 24 presentations across two sections: “Neuroefficiency and Neurophysiological Mechanisms of Cognition” (chaired by A.G. Gorkin, V.V. Apanovich) and “Biochemical Correlates of Individual Differences in Abilities and Personality Traits” (chaired by E.V. Volkova, I.N. Trofimova). This field of research is considered one of the most promising and rigorous in science, as it enables the objective linking of mental phenomena with their material substrates.

5 block. New research directions in human abilities and resources were featured in 57 presentations across the sections “Coping Intelligence and Life Pathways” (chaired by E.Yu. Korzhova, I.O. Kuvaeva) and “Spiritual Abilities and Well-Being” (chaired by G.V. Ozhiganova). This work constitutes a timely and socially significant response to contemporary challenges in the realm of psychological well-being.

6 block. Contemporary interdisciplinary and technological approaches to studying human abilities and resources were explored in 26 presentations across the sections “Cognitive Sciences and Virtual Reality” (chaired by A.V. Karpov, A.V. Kotelnikova, V.V. Selivanov) and “Artificial Intelligence vs. Natural Intelligence” (chaired by E.V. Volkova, O.P. Kuznetsov, A.N. Lebedev). These approaches pioneer innovative pathways for ability research, charting new directions for the future development of psychological science.

The poster session, chaired by A.V. Varlamov, featured presentations from twenty researchers.

The evening lecture “Artificial Intelligence: History, Myths, Dangers, and Prospects,” delivered by Dr. O.P. Kuznetsov, Doctor of Technical Sciences and Chief Researcher at the V.A. Trapeznikov Institute of Control Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences, used the evolution of modern machine learning systems to expose the scientific and social untenability of myths about the inevitable emergence of strong AI and superintelligence. O.P. Kuznetsov argues that machine learning, based on induction and big data, is a dead-end path toward creating human-like intelligence, as it cannot generate understanding and common sense. According to the theory of cognitive semantics, understanding is the interpretation of information through an individual’s worldview, which is formed by the brain based on embodied experience, categorization, and biological goals. In conclusion, it is emphasized that without fundamental breakthroughs in understanding the brain’s mechanisms and solving the problem of formalizing common sense, the creation of strong AI is impossible. Furthermore, current trends carry both scientific and existential risks.

The roundtable talk “Milestones in the Creative and Life Journey of V.N. Druzhinin” (moderated by E.V. Volkova, G.V. Ozhiganova, M.A. Kholodnaya) brought together all those fortunate enough to have known the works and personality of the eminent scholar. Attendees included N.A. Almaev, V.I. Belopolsky, A.N. Voronin, O.V. Gordyakova, N.B. Goryunova, A.A. Gostev, T.V. Drobycheva, N.V. Druzhinina, A.V. Karpov, E.V. Karpova, L.I. Larionova, A.N. Lebedev, T.N. Savchenko, V.V. Selivanov, E.A. Sergienko, E.V. Kharitonova, A.G. Shmelev, and others. A constant participant in all conferences, his muse, chief expert, and guardian of Vladimir Nikolaevich’s intellectual legacy is his wife, Natalia Valentinovna Druzhinina. The warm, collegial atmosphere, filled with jokes and shared memories, created a tangible feeling that V.N. Druzhinin was among us and participated in lively discussions about groundbreaking research in the field of psychology of abilities.

Master class “The State Public Scientific and Technological Library of Russia as an Access Point for Scientific and Technical Information: New Opportunities” (Leader: O.V. Sasina, Director of the User Service Center, SPSPL of Russia). As part of the event, all interested participants had the opportunity to obtain a reader’s card for the SPSPL of Russia and receive guidance on using the personal account. The reader’s card grants access to the library’s unique collections, some of which are of global significance. It enables users to track the latest publications, analyze global trends across various scientific fields, and identify promising avenues for further research.

Discussion

Analysis of the conference proceedings (Volkova et. al., Eds, 2025) identifies several key problematic areas: theoretical and methodological problems—notably, insufficient integration of classical and modern approaches and a lack of a unified understanding of the phenomena of “abilities,” “giftedness,” and “creativity”; diagnostic problems—the limitations of traditional psychodiagnostics methods; and practical problems—a weak link between scientific research, educational practice, and professional activity.

One of the central directions in the study of abilities is theoretical and methodological synthesis. Classical concepts, such as V.N. Druzhinin’s resource-based approach and intellectual range model, as well as V.D. Shadrikov’s theory of abilities, are gaining new relevance in the context of research on cognitive resources, their neurobiological foundations, and their role in professional success. A clear shift is observed from analytical, strictly dispositional models toward more integrative and dynamic paradigms that take into account situational and personal factors in the manifestation of abilities.

The current research landscape focus is on several key areas. Firstly, there is an in-depth study of social and spiritual giftedness, coping intelligence as the ability to effectively overcome life difficulties, and the phenomenon of impressing as a mechanism for activating creative aptitudes. Secondly, the neurobiological and genetic direction is actively developing, aimed at finding correlates of individual differences in abilities, ranging from the functioning of neurotransmitter systems to the structural and functional characteristics of the brain. Thirdly, digitalization and the development of artificial intelligence technologies have given rise to a new field of research dedicated to the transformation of cognitive processes, the interaction between natural and artificial intelligence, and the creation of diagnostic and developmental tools based on virtual reality and Big Data.

Breakthrough directions in the study of human abilities and resources can be identified as follows:

1) Neurointerfaces – active intervention and modulation of brain function to optimize cognitive functions (using TMS, tDCS) to enhance neuroplasticity, improve memory, attention, and learning speed, which may lead to the development of “cognitive prosthetics” for individuals with cognitive impairments;

2) Epigenetics of Abilities and Giftedness – studying how social experience, education, stress, and enriched environments affect the expression of genes related to cognitive functions and brain plasticity, potentially revolutionizing pedagogy through personalized epigenetic profiles;

3) Investigating the Role of the Microbiome in Cognitive Processes – developing probiotics and dietary plans to enhance the neuroefficiency of cognitive activity;

4) Psychology of Human-Machine Teams and Distributed Intelligence – identifying the cognitive and personal characteristics that enable a person to become the most effective link in a “human-AI” system, as well as addressing the challenges of managing human-machine teams;

5) Embodied Approach to Abilities – exploring the connection between physical actions and complex cognitive acts, enabling a shift from sedentary learning formats to dynamic environments where the body becomes a full-fledged participant in the cognitive process.

In essence, these breakthrough directions are not entirely novel. The idea of a connection between physical actions and complex cognitive acts, for instance, was explored in the works of Aristotle, Francis Galton, Ivan M. Sechenov, Nikolai A. Bernstein, and other scholars. However, it is the contemporary advancement of these very research vectors that may provide the foundation for counteracting or even reversing the trend known as the “negative Flynn effect” — the observed decline in IQ scores over recent decades.

Alongside the classical psychometric approach and experimental procedures, longitudinal designs, qualitative methods (e.g., psychobiographical analysis), and interdisciplinary complexes integrating psychological, physiological, and genetic data are increasingly being used. The ecological validity of many traditional tests is critically evaluated, which stimulates the development of situational diagnostic methods that take into account the context and personal meanings of the individual.

Based on the analysis the conference proceedings (Volkova et. al., Eds, 2025), a set of goals and hypotheses for prospective empirical research can be formulated. One such goal is to study the influence of situational and personal factors on the manifestation of abilities in a digital environment. Hypotheses here could posit that the level of digital competence moderates the relationship between cognitive abilities and the success of solving tasks in a virtual environment, and that the situational significance of a task directly affects the intensity of ability manifestation.

Another promising goal is the investigation of neurobiological and genetic predictors of coping intelligence. Hypotheses could include that polymorphisms in the genes of the serotonin system are associated with individual differences in coping intelligence, and that the activity of the prefrontal cortex correlates with the effectiveness of coping in stressful situations.

The study of impressing as a mechanism for activating creative aptitudes in an educational setting is also of significant interest. Hypothetically, exposure to significant cultural and emotional stimuli during sensitive periods leads to the activation of creative aptitudes, and individual differences in sensitivity to this phenomenon are mediated by temperamental traits.

Finally, in the context of the technological advancements, a relevant goal is to study the interaction of artificial and natural intelligence in professional activities. Plausible hypotheses include that the use of AI increases decision-making effectiveness in individuals with high levels of metacognitive abilities, and that trust in AI moderates the relationship between intelligence level and professional success.

Thus, contemporary psychology of abilities demonstrates dynamic development, moving towards greater integration, technological advancement, and consideration of the complex nature of the human being in interaction with a rapidly changing world. The proposed research vectors are intended to deepen the understanding of the mechanisms behind the development, manifestation, and realization of human potential in all its diversity.

Conclusions

CRediT author statement:

Volkova E.V.: methodology and conceptualization, editing and preparation of the final version of the manuscript

Sipovskaya Ya.I., Volkova N.E., Dokuchaev D.A.: preparation of the draft of the manuscript, collection and processing of conference materials

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The authors are solely responsible for submitting the final version of the manuscript for publication. The final version of the manuscript was approved by all authors.

Funding: This work was supported by the state assignment of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (Project No. 0138-2025-0016, “Intellectual Systems and Human Abilities”).

References

1. Volkova, E. V., Zhuravlev, A. L., Sipovskaya, Ya. I., & Ushakov, D. V. (Eds.). (2025). Human abilities and resources in a changing world: Proceedings of the international scientific conference dedicated to the 70th anniversary of V.N. Druzhinin (September 23-24, 2025, IP RAS). Moscow: Publishing house “Institute of Psychology of the Russian Academy of Sciences”.
2. DeepSeek. (2025, September 22). A dialogue about the geography of the conference attendees, the current state of research in the field of ability psychology, and text editing [Dialogue in a large language model]. DeepSeek. https://chat.deepseek.com/