Executive Attention as a Predictor of Distracted Driving Performance

摘要

The present study empirically examines the role of executive attention as a predictor of distracted drivingrnperformance. As ADHD is an attention-related disorder, we hypothesized that ADHD individuals wouldrnshow poorer executive attention compared to individuals from a community sample. Second, we predictedrnthat individuals with poorer executive attention would show riskier driving as measured by a self-reportrnquestionnaire and simulated driving trials. One-hundred thirteen individuals with and without ADHDrncompleted an executive attention task, a driving behavior questionnaire, and three (pre-distracted,rndistracted, and post-distracted) simulated driving routes. Results showed that executive attention isrnassociated with braking response times during distracted driving trials. There was also evidence for carryoverrneffects of distraction, with participants showing slower braking response times even after therndistracting task was discontinued. Further research is needed to clarify the relationship between ADHD andrnexecutive attention.