Effects of executive function and distraction tasks on driver workload levels – evidence from EEG

We hypothesized that (1) the distraction task would affect subjective assessment of driver workload and (2) the distraction task would affect EEG spectral power values: increase theta-band power values and change alpha-band power values. (3) Higher and lower levels of executive function capacity would affect drivers’ perceived workload. Individuals with higher levels of executive function would perceive lower workload and perform better on the detection-response task, whereas individuals with lower levels of executive function would perceive higher workload and perform worse on the detection-response task. (4) Executive function and distraction tasks would jointly influence driver workload levels.

本研究提出如下四项假设：1. 分心任务会影响驾驶员工作负荷（driver workload）的主观评估；2. 分心任务会对脑电图（EEG）频谱功率值产生影响，具体表现为θ频段（theta-band）功率值升高，且α频段（alpha-band）功率值发生变化；3. 执行功能（executive function）水平的高低会影响驾驶员感知到的工作负荷：执行功能水平较高的个体，其感知到的工作负荷更低，且在检测反应任务（detection-response task）中的表现更佳；反之，执行功能水平较低的个体，其感知到的工作负荷更高，且在检测反应任务中的表现更差；4. 执行功能与分心任务会共同对驾驶员的工作负荷水平产生影响。