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Eye movements coordinated with steering benefit performance even when vision is denied.
M Wilson1, S Stephenson, M Chattington
1Institute for Biophysical and Clinical Research into Human Movement (IRM), Manchester Metropolitan University, Hassall Road, Alsager, Cheshire, ST7 2HL, UK.
Experimental Brain Research
|August 10, 2006
Summary
Coordinated eye movements benefit driving steering, even without visual information. Drivers looking ahead while steering improved performance, demonstrating the value of anticipatory eye movements.
Area of Science:
- Human motor control
- Visual perception
- Driving simulation
Background:
- Driving involves a tight link between eye movements and steering, particularly on winding roads.
- Drivers typically look at the inside kerb (tangent point) before initiating a turn, a coordinated behavior essential for safe driving.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether the benefit of coordinated eye movements for steering arises from the movement itself or the visual information acquired.
- To dissociate the effects of anticipatory eye movements from the visual feedback obtained during driving.
Main Methods:
- Twenty subjects drove a simulated World Rally Championship stage with varying visibility conditions.
- Visibility was reduced on one side to impair the view of the tangent point, while eye movements and steering were recorded.
Main Results:
- With full visibility, drivers showed typical eye-steering coordination.
- Even when the tangent point was not visible due to reduced visibility, drivers who maintained coordinated eye movements to the side of the turn performed better than those who did not.
Conclusions:
- Coordinated eye movements, independent of visual information, enhance steering performance.
- Anticipatory eye movements play a crucial role in improving driving control, even when visual cues are degraded.