title: A strategically timed verbal task improves performance and neurophysiological alertness during fatiguing drives.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to investigate if a verbal task can improve alertness and if performance changes are associated with changes in alertness as measured by EEG.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Previous research has shown that a secondary task can improve performance on a short, monotonous drive. The current work extends this by examining longer, fatiguing drives. The study also uses EEG to confirm that improved driving performance is concurrent with improved driver alertness.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 90-min, monotonous simulator drive was used to place drivers in a fatigued state. Four secondary tasks were used: no verbal task, continuous verbal task, late verbal task, and a passive radio task.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When engaged in a secondary verbal task at the end of the drive, drivers showed improved lane-keeping performance and had improvements in neurophysiological measures of alertness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A strategically timed concurrent task can improve performance even for fatiguing drives.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Secondary-task countermeasures may prove useful for enhancing driving performance across a range of driving conditions.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Atchley
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gregersen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005221:Fatigue; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012449:Safety; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014705:Verbal Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult