Alertness Maintaining Task (AMT): Effects on Driving in Healthy Aging and Mild Cognitive Impairment

Negative effects on driving accuracy and safety have been clearly demonstrated during conditions of distraction or when drivers are engaged in a competing task (e.g., cell phone use). However, more recent studies suggest that certain types of cognitive tasks (Alertness Maintaining Tasks, AMTs) can be used in situations of driving fatigue to actually increase alertness and reduce driving errors in younger drivers. Although the use of AMTs holds promise in this area, research on the effects of these tasks on driving performance in older drivers or drivers with pre-existing cognitive impairment has not been completed. A better understanding of the possible utility of AMTs in these two populations is clearly important, given these individuals' higher risk for driving errors and crashes. This pilot proposal compares three groups of individuals (young, healthy old, patients with mild cognitive impairment) using a STISIM driving simulator for an extended period of time to induce fatigue, followed by alternating driving and driving plus AMT conditions. The trivia-based AMT used in this proposal is presented via a Ford Automotive Sync System to allow for auditory task presentation and verbal responding. Participants also will undergo heart rate monitoring while using the STISIM, a brief neuropsychological test battery, and self report measures of fatigue and performance to better understand possible group differences. This project will combine efforts from the Department of Psychiatry, School of Engineering and Ford Automotive Company. The data from this pilot study will be used for future larger scale collaborative studies.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $115399.00
• Contract Numbers:

  F026616

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Center for Advancing Safe Transportation Throughout the Lifespan

  University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
  Ann Arbor, MI  United States  48109-2150

  Research and Innovative Technology Administration

  University Transportation Centers Program
  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Performing Organizations:

  University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

  Department of Psychiatry, Neuropsychology Section
  2101 Commonwealth Blvd, Suite C.
  Ann Arbor, MI  United States  48109
• Principal Investigators:

  Persad, Carol

  Giordani, Bruno

• Start Date: 20100915
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 20110914
• Source Data: RiP Project 27773

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alertness; Distraction; Driver errors; Fatigue (Physiological condition); Human factors in crashes; Recently qualified drivers; Young adults
• Uncontrolled Terms: Distracted drivers
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Society; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01461088
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Center for Advancing Safe Transportation Throughout the Lifespan
• Contract Numbers: F026616
• Files: UTC, RIP, USDOT
• Created Date: Jan 3 2013 1:39PM