title: Age differences in simulated driving performance: compensatory processes.
abstract: In the context of driving, the reported experiment examines compensatory processes for age-related declines in cognitive ability. Younger (26-40 years) and older (60+ years) participants (n=22 each group) performed a car following task in a driving simulator. Several performance measures were recorded, including assessments of anticipation of unfolding traffic events. Participants also completed a range of measures of cognitive ability - including both fluid and crystallised abilities. Three examples of age-related compensation are reported: (i) older drivers adopted longer headways than younger drivers. Data were consistent with this being compensation for an age-related deficit in complex reaction time; (ii) older drivers with relatively higher cognitive ability anticipated traffic events more frequently, whereas the reverse pattern was found for younger drivers; and, (iii) older drivers with greater crystallised ability were less reliant on spatial ability to maintain lane position. Consistent with theories of 'cognitive reserve', interactions between crystallised ability and age for self-report workload suggested that compensation for age-related cognitive ability deficits required investment of additional effort. Results are considered in the context of the prospects of further assessment of older drivers.
authors.affiliation: Psychology of Design Group, Institute of Psychological Sciences, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom. E.C.Andrews@leeds.ac.uk
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Westerman
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D059031:Anticipation, Psychological; D001076:Aptitude; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology*; D058245:Cognitive Reserve; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003654:Deceleration; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011930:Reaction Time; D012449:Safety; D013998:Time Perception; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology