EEG Alpha Spindles as Indicators for Prolonged Brake Reaction Time During Auditory Secondary Tasks in a Real Road Driving Study

摘要

Driver distraction accounts for a substantial number of traffic accidents. Therefore, theimpact of auditory secondary tasks on driving performance was examined. In addition toperformance measures, i.e. reaction time on emergency brakings of a leading vehicle,mental driver states were described by electroencephalographic (EEG: alpha spindles, alphaband power) as well as cardiac activity (ECG: heart rate variability).Results show that brake reaction time (RT) increased with time-on-task during allconditions (p<.001), and was significantly higher while performing the secondary task(p<.001). Physiological measures showed similar effects. Alpha spindle rate, alpha bandpower as well as heart rate variability (HRV) increased with time-on-task and weresignificantly different during the secondary task, indicating inhibited visual informationprocessing and reduced concentration ability. This study shows that reduced drivingperformance measured by means of prolonged brake reactions during increased cognitive loadelicited by auditory secondary tasks is indicated by EEG measures as well as cardiacactivity, enabling the direct quantification of driver distraction in experiments duringreal road driving.