Divided attention and driving: a pilot study using virtual reality technology.
BACKGROUND
Virtual reality (VR) was used to investigate the influence of divided attention (simple versus complex) on driving performance (speed control).


METHODS
Three individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and three healthy controls (HC), matched for age, education, and gender, were examined.


RESULTS
Preliminary results revealed no differences on driving speed between TBI and HC. In contrast, TBI subjects demonstrated a greater number of errors on a secondary task performed while driving.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that VR may provide an innovative medium for direct evaluation of basic cognitive functions (ie, divided attention) and its impact on everyday tasks (ie, driving) not previously available through traditional neuropsychological measures.
Lengenfelder
Jean
J
Neuropsychology and Neuroscience Laboratory, Kessler Medical Rehabilitation Research and Education Corporation, West Orange, New Jersey 07052, USA.
Schultheis
Maria T
MT
Al-Shihabi
Talal
T
Mourant
Ronald
R
DeLuca
John
J
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011930:Reaction Time; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D014794:Visual Fields