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Load-Dependent Relationship Between Lateral Prefrontal Cortex Activity and Pupil Diameter in the Context of Driving
Yoritaka Akimoto1, Taiki Yamaguchi1
1Information & Management Systems Engineering, Nagaoka University of Technology, Nagaoka, Japan.
Perceptual and Motor Skills
|March 25, 2025
Summary
Cognitive load in driving impacts accident risk. This study found pupil diameter and prefrontal cortex activity correlate with task difficulty, suggesting load-dependent relationships in driving.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Human Factors Engineering
Background:
- Inappropriate arousal and cognitive load during driving significantly elevate accident risk.
- Previous research indicates lateral prefrontal activity and pupil diameter are reliable indicators of cognitive load.
- The relationship between prefrontal activity and pupil diameter is load-dependent, showing correlation only under low cognitive load conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the load-dependent relationship between lateral prefrontal cortex activity and pupil diameter during driving.
- To examine how cognitive load, influenced by a secondary conversation task, affects this relationship.
- To differentiate the impact of task load versus task nature on neural and physiological responses.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) to measure lateral prefrontal cortex activity (Oxy-Hb concentrations).
- Employed eye tracking to monitor pupil diameter.
- Participants engaged in a driving simulation on a mountain pass, with and without a concurrent conversation task.
Main Results:
- Pupil diameter and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) activity (Oxy-Hb) significantly increased during conversational driving compared to normal driving.
- A significant positive correlation between pupil diameter and left dlPFC activity was observed during high-load conversational driving.
- This correlation was absent during low-load normal driving, indicating a task-dependent relationship.
Conclusions:
- Findings confirm a load-dependent relationship between dlPFC activity and pupil diameter in driving contexts.
- The relationship is influenced not only by the degree of cognitive load but also by the nature of the task.
- Differential engagement of executive functions and arousal may explain the observed task-specific correlations.
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