Neurobehavioural signatures in race car driving: a case study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Human Expertise
• Motor Control

Background:

• Mobile brain and body imaging advances enable real-world neuroscience research.
• Studying highly skilled individuals in action can illuminate the neurobehavioral basis of expertise.
• Driving is a complex real-world skill with varying levels of expertise.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the neural and motor patterns of an elite driver during high-performance driving.
• To demonstrate the feasibility of mobile brain and body imaging in extreme conditions.
• To understand the sensory inputs, motor outputs, and brain states characterizing complex skills.

Main Methods:

• A case study was conducted on a Formula E Champion driver.
• Simultaneous recordings of brain activity (EEG), eye movements, and hand/foot movements were performed.
• Data collection occurred during high-speed driving on a race track under challenging environmental conditions (wet track, low visibility, low temperature).

Main Results:

• Mobile brain and body imaging was successfully implemented under extreme race car driving conditions.
• Causal relationships were identified between brain activity in delta, alpha, and beta frequency bands and hand movements.
• The study captured neural and motor data reflecting the complex skill of elite driving.

Conclusions:

• Mobile brain and body imaging is a feasible tool for studying expertise in demanding real-world scenarios.
• This technology can provide insights into the neurophysiological underpinnings of high-level motor skills.
• The findings highlight the interplay between brain activity and motor control in elite performance.