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The Relationship Between Cognition and Sensorimotor Behavior in an F1 Driving Simulation: An Explorative Study
Nils Eckardt1,2, Ingo Roden3,4, Dietmar Grube3
1Department of Sport and Movement Science, Institute of Sport Science, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany.
Frontiers in Psychology
|November 16, 2020
Summary
Cognitive skills, specifically executive functions like response inhibition, are linked to better performance and adaptation in novel sensorimotor tasks, such as driving simulations. This highlights the importance of executive functions in mastering new skills.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Motor Control
- Human Factors
Background:
- Sensorimotor control integrates cognitive processes like decision-making and multisensory integration.
- The link between cognition and sensorimotor learning is established, but its relation to novel skill acquisition is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between general cognitive skills, particularly executive functions (EFs), and immediate sensorimotor performance in a novel task.
- To explore if EFs predict performance and adaptive abilities during the acquisition of a new sensorimotor skill.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-three male participants underwent a 2-day F1 driving simulation.
- Day 1 focused on adaptation to the simulation; Day 2 focused on performance.
- Executive functions and global cognition were assessed using standardized tests.
Main Results:
- A significant positive correlation was found between response inhibition (a key EF) and driving performance (r = 0.48, p = 0.013).
- Response inhibition also correlated significantly with adaptive ability (r = 0.34, p = 0.012).
- Other executive functions and global cognition measures did not show significant associations.
Conclusions:
- Executive functions, specifically selective attention and inhibition, are associated with performance and adaptive skills in a novel sensorimotor task (F1 simulation).
- The ability to adjust sensorimotor behavior, likely supported by inhibitory control, is crucial for navigating novel tasks and achieving optimal performance.
