Spatial navigation ability is associated with the assessment of smoothness of driving during changing lanes in older drivers

Abstract

Background: Age-related changes affect driving ability, including the smoothness of driving. This operation requires the use of both allocentric strategies (based on world-centered representations) and egocentric strategies (based on self-centered representations); however, with age, a greater preference for egocentric strategies is evident when driving. Furthermore, an age-related decline occurs in both driving ability and spatial navigation. We therefore assessed the relationship between spatial navigation and driving smoothness and tested whether a driving simulator can be used to evaluate smooth lane changes in older drivers. Methods: A total of 34 healthy older drivers (mean age: 68.2 ± 5.4 years old) and 20 younger drivers (mean age = 20.2 ± 5.4 years old) participated in this study. The smoothness of driving was assessed using a driving simulator and spatial navigation was assessed using the Card-Placing Test-A/B. We also assessed visual perception and general intellectual function using standard neuropsychological tests. Results: Older drivers had significantly worse spatial navigation and exhibited less smooth driving than younger drivers. Furthermore, we found a negative correlation between the smoothness of driving and spatial navigation within both groups. These results suggest that the deterioration in spatial navigation in older people may underlie the observed decrease in driving smoothness, and that spatial navigation and smooth driving deteriorate with age. Conclusions: Considering these results, we found a significant correlation in the older group between the smoothness of vehicle movement and spatial navigation, in the smoothness of vehicle movement between the young and old groups. The smoothness values, which indices thoroughly derived from the driving simulator are indeed showing some evidence in ego/allocentric cognitions, which may change by age. The driving simulator could aid the development of intervention programs or assessment measures for drivers with a decreased function.

Cognitive Efficiency and Fitness-to-Drive along the Lifespan: The Mediation Effect of Visuospatial Transformations

“…According to Lappi and Mole [3], driving represents a perfect test-bed to better understand how visuospatial information is processed, especially during high-speed navigation. According to Kunishige et al [11], both object-and self-based spatial representations are necessary for safe driving. For instance, object-based spatial representation supports the monitoring of the change of both the vehicle's trajectory and the surrounding environment [11], as when turning at an intersection or driving through a roundabout [12].…”

“…According to Kunishige et al [11], both object-and self-based spatial representations are necessary for safe driving. For instance, object-based spatial representation supports the monitoring of the change of both the vehicle's trajectory and the surrounding environment [11], as when turning at an intersection or driving through a roundabout [12]. Self-based representations, on the other hand, have a key role in planning the route by sensing distances and positional relationships with other vehicles [11,13].…”

“…For instance, object-based spatial representation supports the monitoring of the change of both the vehicle's trajectory and the surrounding environment [11], as when turning at an intersection or driving through a roundabout [12]. Self-based representations, on the other hand, have a key role in planning the route by sensing distances and positional relationships with other vehicles [11,13]. Everyday life activities could require the combination of objectand self-based spatial representations, also requiring the ability to switch between them in a flexible manner (i.e., navigation by car) [11].…”

“…Self-based representations, on the other hand, have a key role in planning the route by sensing distances and positional relationships with other vehicles [11,13]. Everyday life activities could require the combination of objectand self-based spatial representations, also requiring the ability to switch between them in a flexible manner (i.e., navigation by car) [11].…”

“…Given these results and considering that navigation through driving combines objectand self-based representations [11,33], it is likely that mental rotation and perspectivetaking exert a mediation role between the driver's cognitive functioning and measures of driving performance.…”