Shedding light on the prefrontal correlates of mental workload in simulated driving: a functional near-infrared spectroscopy study.

ABSTRACT: Optimal mental workload plays a key role in driving performance. Thus, driver-assisting systems that automatically adapt to a drivers current mental workload via brain-computer interfacing might greatly contribute to traffic safety. To design economic brain computer interfaces that do not compromise driver comfort, it is necessary to identify brain areas that are most sensitive to mental workload changes. In this study, we used functional near-infrared spectroscopy and subjective ratings to measure mental workload in two virtual driving environments with distinct demands. We found that demanding city environments induced both higher subjective workload ratings as well as higher bilateral middle frontal gyrus activation than less demanding country environments. A further analysis with highe

SUBMITTER: Geissler CF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7804012 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature