Neural Correlates Predicting Lane-Keeping and Hazard Detection: An fMRI Study Featuring a Pedestrian-Rich Simulator Environment

• Published in: Frontiers in human neuroscience 2022-02, Vol.16, p.754379-754379
• Main Authors: Oba, Kentaro, Hamada, Koji, Tanabe-Ishibashi, Azumi, Murase, Fumihiko, Hirose, Masaaki, Kawashima, Ryuta, Sugiura, Motoaki
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Brain research; Cognitive ability; driving safety; driving simulator; fMRI; frontoparietal control network; Functional magnetic resonance imaging; Human Neuroscience; Roads & highways; superior temporal sulcus; Traffic accidents & safety
• ISSN: 1662-5161; 1662-5161
• DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.754379

Distracted attention is considered responsible for most car accidents, and many functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) researchers have addressed its neural correlates using a car-driving simulator. Previous studies, however, have not directly addressed safe driving performance and did not place pedestrians in the simulator environment. In this fMRI study, we simulated a pedestrian-rich environment to explore the neural correlates of three types of safe driving performance: accurate lane-keeping during driving (driving accuracy), the braking response to a preceding car, and the braking response to a crossing pedestrian. Activation of the bilateral frontoparietal control network predicted high driving accuracy. On the other hand, activation of the left posterior and right anterior superior temporal sulci preceding a sudden pedestrian crossing predicted a slow braking response. The results suggest the involvement of different cognitive processes in different components of driving safety: the facilitatory effect of maintained attention on driving accuracy and the distracting effect of social-cognitive processes on the braking response to pedestrians.