Driving Simulator Training Is Associated with Reduced Inhibitory Workload in Older Drivers

Overview

Journal Geriatrics (Basel)

Specialty Geriatrics

Date 2019 Apr 27

PMID 31022810

Citations 4

Authors

Gianclaudio Casutt

Mike Martin

Lutz Jancke

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: In demanding cognitive tasks, older people mostly experience more problems than younger people, and their brain workload is higher. An overloaded or exhausted mental workload is frequently associated with unsafe driving behavior. In this paper, we hypothesize that 10 active training sessions in a driving simulator positively influence brain workload, which relates to a beneficial increase in on-road driving performance.

Methods: Ninety-one healthy active drivers (62⁻87 years) were randomly assigned to: (a) a driving simulator-training group; (b) an attention-training group; or (c) a control group. The dependent variables of this training study were brain workload (theta Fz/alpha Pz), and performance in three tasks, for which inhibition of inadequate responses (Stroop, Negative Priming, and Flanker) is required. Seventy-seven participants (85% of the total sample) completed the training. Training gains were analyzed by using a multiple regression analysis with planned comparisons.

Results: The results revealed that the driving simulator training reduced brain workload during performance of the inhibition tasks. The performance of the simulator group during the inhibition tasks did not improve, but the participants completed the tasks with less brain workload compared to the attention-training group.

Conclusion: Adding to our first paper on the Drive-Wise project, this paper now focuses on the superiority of the driving simulator training, compared to attention-training in regards to reducing brain workload. The change in brain workload seems to be associated with a positive change in drivers' behavior on the road. Hence, a driving simulator training lasting only ten sessions leads to beneficial neuroplastic changes. This demonstrates brain plasticity of older people and its possible positive influence in real driving behavior.

Citing Articles

On the Road Safety: Gender Differences in Risk-Taking Driving Behaviors Among Seniors Aged 65 and Older.

Cordellieri P, Piccardi L, Giancola M, Giannini A, Nori R Geriatrics (Basel). 2024; 9(5).

PMID: 39451868 PMC: 11507166. DOI: 10.3390/geriatrics9050136.

Relationship between Driving Ability and Physical Fitness Factors in Older Adults: A Multiple Linear Regression Analysis.

Katayama A, Abe T, Hase A, Miyatake N Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2024; 21(6).

PMID: 38928907 PMC: 11204221. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21060660.

Newly Developed TV-Based Cognitive Training Games Improve Car Driving Skills, Cognitive Functions, and Mood in Healthy Older Adults: Evidence From a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Nouchi R, Kobayashi A, Nouchi H, Kawashima R Front Aging Neurosci. 2019; 11:99.

PMID: 31133842 PMC: 6513888. DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2019.00099.

Effect of Speed of Processing Training on Older Driver Screening Measures.

Eramudugolla R, Kiely K, Chopra S, Anstey K Front Aging Neurosci. 2017; 9:338.

PMID: 29089888 PMC: 5651014. DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2017.00338.

References

Hasher L, Zacks R, Rahhal T . Timing, instructions, and inhibitory control: some missing factors in the age and memory debate. Gerontology. 1999; 45(6):355-7. DOI: 10.1159/000022121. View

Nigg J . On inhibition/disinhibition in developmental psychopathology: views from cognitive and personality psychology and a working inhibition taxonomy. Psychol Bull. 2000; 126(2):220-46. DOI: 10.1037/0033-2909.126.2.220. View

Gevins A, Smith M . Neurophysiological measures of working memory and individual differences in cognitive ability and cognitive style. Cereb Cortex. 2000; 10(9):829-39. DOI: 10.1093/cercor/10.9.829. View

Rizzo M, McGehee D, Dawson J, Anderson S . Simulated car crashes at intersections in drivers with Alzheimer disease. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 2001; 15(1):10-20. DOI: 10.1097/00002093-200101000-00002. View

Morris S, DeShon R . Combining effect size estimates in meta-analysis with repeated measures and independent-groups designs. Psychol Methods. 2002; 7(1):105-25. DOI: 10.1037/1082-989x.7.1.105. View

Daigneault G, Joly P, Frigon J . Executive functions in the evaluation of accident risk of older drivers. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol. 2002; 24(2):221-38. DOI: 10.1076/jcen.24.2.221.993. View

Reuter-Lorenz P . New visions of the aging mind and brain. Trends Cogn Sci. 2002; 6(9):394. DOI: 10.1016/s1364-6613(02)01957-5. View

Lee H, Cameron D, Lee A . Assessing the driving performance of older adult drivers: on-road versus simulated driving. Accid Anal Prev. 2003; 35(5):797-803. DOI: 10.1016/s0001-4575(02)00083-0. View

Recarte M, Nunes L . Mental workload while driving: effects on visual search, discrimination, and decision making. J Exp Psychol Appl. 2003; 9(2):119-37. DOI: 10.1037/1076-898x.9.2.119. View

10.

Roenker D, Cissell G, Ball K, Wadley V, Edwards J . Speed-of-processing and driving simulator training result in improved driving performance. Hum Factors. 2003; 45(2):218-33. DOI: 10.1518/hfes.45.2.218.27241. View

11.

Stalvey B, Owsley C . The development and efficacy of a theory-based educational curriculum to promote self-regulation among high-risk older drivers. Health Promot Pract. 2003; 4(2):109-19. DOI: 10.1177/1524839902250757. View

12.

Ward L . Synchronous neural oscillations and cognitive processes. Trends Cogn Sci. 2003; 7(12):553-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2003.10.012. View

13.

Owsley C, McGwin Jr G, Phillips J, McNeal S, Stalvey B . Impact of an educational program on the safety of high-risk, visually impaired, older drivers. Am J Prev Med. 2004; 26(3):222-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2003.12.005. View

14.

Tisch S, Silberstein P, Limousin-Dowsey P, Jahanshahi M . The basal ganglia: anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2004; 27(4):757-99. DOI: 10.1016/j.psc.2004.06.004. View

15.

Anstey K, Wood J, Lord S, Walker J . Cognitive, sensory and physical factors enabling driving safety in older adults. Clin Psychol Rev. 2004; 25(1):45-65. DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2004.07.008. View

16.

Radvansky G, Zacks R, Hasher L . Age and inhibition: the retrieval of situation models. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2005; 60(5):P276-8. PMC: 1751467. DOI: 10.1093/geronb/60.5.p276. View

17.

Rush B, Barch D, Braver T . Accounting for cognitive aging: context processing, inhibition or processing speed?. Neuropsychol Dev Cogn B Aging Neuropsychol Cogn. 2006; 13(3-4):588-610. DOI: 10.1080/13825580600680703. View

18.

Berka C, Levendowski D, Lumicao M, Yau A, Davis G, Zivkovic V . EEG correlates of task engagement and mental workload in vigilance, learning, and memory tasks. Aviat Space Environ Med. 2007; 78(5 Suppl):B231-44. View

19.

Braitman K, Kirley B, Ferguson S, Chaudhary N . Factors leading to older drivers' intersection crashes. Traffic Inj Prev. 2007; 8(3):267-74. DOI: 10.1080/15389580701272346. View

20.

Davis S, Dennis N, Daselaar S, Fleck M, Cabeza R . Que PASA? The posterior-anterior shift in aging. Cereb Cortex. 2007; 18(5):1201-9. PMC: 2760260. DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhm155. View