Electroencephalogram (EEG) was used to analyze the mechanisms and differences in brain neural activity of drivers in visual, auditory, and cognitive distracted vs. normal driving emergency braking conditions. A pedestrian intrusion emergency braking stimulus module and three distraction subtasks were designed in a simulated experiment, and 30 subjects participated in the study. The common activated brain regions during emergency braking in different distracted driving states included the inferior temporal gyrus, associated with visual information processing and attention; the left dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus, related to cognitive decision-making; and the postcentral gyrus, supplementary motor area, and paracentral lobule associated with motor control and coordination. When performing emergency braking under different driving distraction states, the brain regions were activated in accordance with the need to process the specific distraction task. Furthermore, the extent and degree of activation of cognitive function-related prefrontal regions increased accordingly with the increasing task complexity. All distractions caused a lag in emergency braking reaction time, with 107.22, 67.15, and 126.38 ms for visual, auditory, and cognitive distractions, respectively. Auditory distraction had the least effect and cognitive distraction the greatest effect on the lag.

No abstract

Objective: The posterior parietal cortex (PPC) is involved in cognitive attentional activity, according to neuroimaging research. Its specific role in the brain network responsible for attention need to be further identified. Approach: In this study, an attention network test (ANT) was designed. 1-Hz low-frequency repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) was performed over the right PPC. Behavioral and EEG data were analyzed before and after stimulation. Main results: The behavioral results showed that the frontoparietal network was directly connected to spatial orientation and executive functions. Low-frequency TMS produced an inhibitory effect in opposition to the learning effect, which persisted 24 hours after stimulation and was most pronounced under spatial cues. Event-related potentials (ERP) results showed that the stimulation inhibited the posterior parietal brain neural activity, and in particular, had a significant inhibitory effect on spatial attention. Significance: PPC is crucial in attentional orienting and executive functions. Exploring ways to intervene in brain activity has significant implications for people to recover attentional function.

No abstract