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Effects of Cognitive Load on Driving Performance: The Cognitive Control Hypothesis
Johan Engström1, Gustav Markkula2, Trent Victor3
1Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, Blacksburg.
Human Factors
|February 11, 2017
Summary
Cognitive load selectively impairs driving tasks requiring cognitive control but leaves automatic driving performance unaffected. This finding highlights the task-dependent nature of cognitive load effects on driving.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive psychology
- Human factors
- Transportation safety
Background:
- Driving is impaired by visual distraction.
- The impact of cognitive load on driving performance is not fully understood.
- Existing research shows varied effects of cognitive tasks on driving.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a framework for understanding cognitive load's effects on driving.
- To review and reinterpret existing literature using this framework.
- To clarify how cognitive load influences different driving subtasks.
Main Methods:
- Developed an explanatory framework based on driver attention models.
- Proposed the cognitive control hypothesis.
- Conducted an extensive literature review to test the framework.
Main Results:
- The cognitive control hypothesis explains observed driving performance patterns.
- Cognitive load impairs tasks needing cognitive control.
- Automatized driving tasks are unaffected or improved by cognitive load.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive load effects on driving are selective and task-dependent.
- The framework reconciles discrepancies in existing research.
- Findings have implications for real-world driving and future crash research.
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