Citation

Vickers KL, Schultheis MT, Manning KJ. NeuroRehabilitation 2018; 42(2): 213-222.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, IOS Press)

DOI

10.3233/NRE-172301

PMID

29562565

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Virtual reality technology allows neuropsychologists to examine complex, real-world behaviors with high ecological validity and can provide an understanding of the impact of demanding dual-tasks on driving performance.

OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that a task imposing high cognitive and physical demands (coin-sorting) would result in the greatest reduction in driving maintenance performance.

METHODS: Twenty participants with acquired brain injury and 28 healthy controls were included in the current study. All participants were licensed and drove regularly. Participants completed two standardized VRDS drives: (1) a baseline drive with no distractions, and (2) the same route with three, counterbalanced dual-tasks representing differing demands.

RESULTS: A series of 3 (Task)×2 (Group) ANOVAs revealed that the ABI group tended to go slower than the HC group in the presence of a dual-task, F (1, 111) = 6.24, p = 0.01. Importantly, the ABI group also showed greater variability in speed, F (1, 110) = 10.97, p < 0.01, and lane position, F (1, 108) = 7.81, p < 0.01, an effect driven by dual-tasks with both a cognitive and motor demand.

CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that long-term driving difficulties following ABI are subtle and likely due to reduced cognitive resources.

Language: en

Keywords

Brain injuries; CVA (cerebrovascular accident); TBI (traumatic brain injury); automobile driving,cognition; chronic