Speed-of-Processing and Driving Simulator Training Result in Improved Driving Performance

TLDR

Useful field of view, a measure of processing speed and spatial attention, can be improved with training. The study evaluated how improving useful field of view affects older adults' driving performance and its potential application in driver assessment and cognitive intervention programs. Elderly adults (N = 48) underwent speed‑of‑processing training, a traditional simulator training (N = 22), or served as a low‑risk reference (N = 25); all were assessed in a simulator and on a 14‑mile open‑road drive before training, immediately after, after an equivalent delay, and again after 18 months to evaluate persistence. Speed‑of‑processing training improved UFOV, transferred to some simulator measures, and reduced dangerous maneuvers, whereas simulator training improved lane‑changing and signal use but neither intervention produced similar gains in the reference group.

Abstract

Useful field of view, a measure of processing speed and spatial attention, can be improved with training. We evaluated the effects of this improvement on older adults' driving performance. Elderly adults participated in a speed-of-processing training program ( N = 48), a traditional driver training program performed in a driving simulator ( N = 22), or a low-risk reference group ( N = 25). Before training, immediately after training or an equivalent time delay, and after an 18-month delay each participant was evaluated in a driving simulator and completed a 14-mile (22.5-km) open-road driving evaluation. Speed-of-processing training, but not simulator training, improved a specific measure of useful field of view (UFOV®), transferred to some simulator measures, and resulted in fewer dangerous maneuvers during the driving evaluation. The simulator-trained group improved on two driving performance measures: turning into the correct lane and proper signal use. Similar effects were not observed in the speed-of-processing training or low-risk reference groups. The persistence of these effects over an 18-month test interval was also evaluated. Actual or potential applications of this research include driver assessment and/or training programs and cognitive intervention programs for older adults.