Code

Data Processing Code For: Shedding light on the prefrontal correlates of mental workload in simulated driving: A functional near-infrared spectroscopy study

Author(s) / Creator(s)

Geißler, Christoph
Schneider, Jörn
Frings, Christian

Abstract / Description

Contains SPSS syntax for behavioral data (i.e. NASA RTLX and ISA difficulty ratings) and NIRS Toolbox processing pipeline code for neuro data (i.e. prefrontal fNIRS recordings) of simulated driving
Code for: Geissler, C.F., Schneider, J. & Frings, C. Shedding light on the prefrontal correlates of mental workload in simulated driving: a functional near-infrared spectroscopy study. Sci Rep 11, 705 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-80477-w
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 higher spatial resolution revealed a center of activation in the right anterior dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The area is highly involved in spatial working memory processing. Thus, a main component of drivers’ mental workload in complex surroundings might stem from the fact that large amounts of spatial information about the course of the road as well as other road users has to constantly be upheld, processed and updated. We propose that the right middle frontal gyrus might be a suitable region for the application of powerful small-area brain computer interfaces.

Persistent Identifier

Date of first publication

2020-12-21

Publisher

PsychArchives

Is referenced by

Citation

Geißler, C., Schneider, J., & Frings, C. (2020). Data Processing Code For: Shedding light on the prefrontal correlates of mental workload in simulated driving: A functional near-infrared spectroscopy study. PsychArchives. https://doi.org/10.23668/PSYCHARCHIVES.4423
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Geißler, Christoph
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Schneider, Jörn
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Frings, Christian
  • PsychArchives acquisition timestamp
    2020-12-21T09:47:37Z
  • Made available on
    2020-12-21T09:47:37Z
  • Date of first publication
    2020-12-21
  • Abstract / Description
    Contains SPSS syntax for behavioral data (i.e. NASA RTLX and ISA difficulty ratings) and NIRS Toolbox processing pipeline code for neuro data (i.e. prefrontal fNIRS recordings) of simulated driving
    en
  • Abstract / Description
    Code for: Geissler, C.F., Schneider, J. & Frings, C. Shedding light on the prefrontal correlates of mental workload in simulated driving: a functional near-infrared spectroscopy study. Sci Rep 11, 705 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-80477-w
    en
  • Abstract / Description
    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 higher spatial resolution revealed a center of activation in the right anterior dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The area is highly involved in spatial working memory processing. Thus, a main component of drivers’ mental workload in complex surroundings might stem from the fact that large amounts of spatial information about the course of the road as well as other road users has to constantly be upheld, processed and updated. We propose that the right middle frontal gyrus might be a suitable region for the application of powerful small-area brain computer interfaces.
    en
  • Publication status
    unknown
    en
  • Review status
    unknown
    en
  • Sponsorship
    Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL. The driving Simulator was funded by Carl-Zeiss-Invest a program of the Carl-Zeiss-Foundation. No further founding was received.
    en
  • Citation
    Geißler, C., Schneider, J., & Frings, C. (2020). Data Processing Code For: Shedding light on the prefrontal correlates of mental workload in simulated driving: A functional near-infrared spectroscopy study. PsychArchives. https://doi.org/10.23668/PSYCHARCHIVES.4423
    en
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/4002
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.4423
  • Language of content
    eng
  • Publisher
    PsychArchives
    en
  • Is referenced by
    https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-80477-w
  • Is related to
    https://www.psycharchives.org/handle/20.500.12034/4003
  • Is related to
    https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-80477-w
  • Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)
    150
  • Title
    Data Processing Code For: Shedding light on the prefrontal correlates of mental workload in simulated driving: A functional near-infrared spectroscopy study
    en
  • DRO type
    code
    en