Anodal tDCS over right posterior parietal cortex reduces inter-vehicle distance variability: A driving simulator...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Science
• Human Factors Engineering

Background:

• Driving demands complex cognitive and neural integration.
• Previous research linked right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) stimulation to improved driving.
• The posterior parietal cortex (PPC), crucial for sensory-motor integration, was unexplored in driving contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on simulated driving performance.
• To compare the effects of tDCS over the DLPFC and PPC.
• To identify potential neuromodulatory targets for enhancing driving behavior.

Main Methods:

• Participants performed a simulated follow-the-lead-car task.
• Anodal tDCS was applied over the right DLPFC and PPC in separate sessions.
• Driving performance was assessed via brake reaction time, lateral position variability, speed violations, and inter-vehicle distance metrics.

Main Results:

• Anodal tDCS over the PPC significantly decreased the variability of inter-vehicle distance, indicating enhanced driving stability.
• No significant improvements were found for other driving metrics or following DLPFC stimulation.
• This study is the first to link PPC stimulation with driving behavior.

Conclusions:

• Posterior parietal cortex (PPC) neuromodulation can improve driving stability, likely via enhanced spatial attention and motor integration.
• The PPC shows potential as a target for interventions aimed at improving driving performance.
• Further research is warranted to explore the full potential of PPC stimulation for driving.