title: Neurocognitive Correlates of Young Drivers' Performance in a Driving Simulator.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Differences in neurocognitive functioning may contribute to driving performance among young drivers. However, few studies have examined this relation. This pilot study investigated whether common neurocognitive measures were associated with driving performance among young drivers in a driving simulator.
  
  
  METHODS
  Young drivers (19.8 years (standard deviation [SD] = 1.9; N = 74)) participated in a battery of neurocognitive assessments measuring general intellectual capacity (Full-Scale Intelligence Quotient, FSIQ) and executive functioning, including the Stroop Color-Word Test (cognitive inhibition), Wisconsin Card Sort Test-64 (cognitive flexibility), and Attention Network Task (alerting, orienting, and executive attention). Participants then drove in a simulated vehicle under two conditions-a baseline and driving challenge. During the driving challenge, participants completed a verbal working memory task to increase demand on executive attention. Multiple regression models were used to evaluate the relations between the neurocognitive measures and driving performance under the two conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FSIQ, cognitive inhibition, and alerting were associated with better driving performance at baseline. FSIQ and cognitive inhibition were also associated with better driving performance during the verbal challenge. Measures of cognitive flexibility, orienting, and conflict executive control were not associated with driving performance under either condition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FSIQ and, to some extent, measures of executive function are associated with driving performance in a driving simulator. Further research is needed to determine if executive function is associated with more advanced driving performance under conditions that demand greater cognitive load.
authors.affiliation: Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland. Electronic address: switt1@jhu.edu.
authors.forename: Stephanie A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Guinosso
authors.affiliation: Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Sara B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; School of Biomedical Engineering, Sciences and Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Maria T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Schultheis
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Anna C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Graefe
authors.affiliation: Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Bishai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014922:Wisconsin; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adolescent; Attention; Driving; Driving simulator; Executive function