An autonomic space model of sympathetic and parasympathetic influences onthe heart has been proposed as a method of deciphering psychological-physiological mappings for driving-related tasks. In the current study, the authors explore the utility of the autonomic space model for deciphering mappings in a driving simulation environment by comparing a single-task driving-only condition to two dual-task, driving-with-a-secondary-working-memory task conditions. Although limited by a small sample size, the results illustrate the advantages physiological measures can have over performance measures for detecting changes in the psychological process required for driving-related task performance. Future research will include a repetition of this same study with more subjects as well the collection of on-the-road autonomic nervous system data.
Samenvatting