MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich., Oct. 19 (UPI) -- A U.S. psychologist is conducting research that may lead to car dashboards and other technical devices that won't distract drivers.
Central Michigan University psychology Professor Richard Backs and his students, with support from the General Motors Corp., are using brain wave patterns and heart activity to study drivers' attention while behind the wheel of a desktop driving simulator.
"We are simulating how people use their attention while driving to better understand distractions such as navigation systems, cell phones and other portable wireless devices," Backs said. "In normal situations, our driving performance is not affected by these distractions. We may think that we are driving safely but physiological measures show how our attention is actually focused on these other devices. Through our research, we hope to learn how to minimize distractions from these types of devices."
A key focus of Backs' research is on how driver attention changes as people age. He also plans to expand his research to focus on adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other diagnosed attention disorders, to learn how their illnesses affect their attention while driving.
