TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2006//
TI  - Visual attention and older drivers: the contribution of inhibition of return to safe driving
JO  - Experimental aging research
A1  - Bédard, M.
A1  - Leonard, E.
A1  - McAuliffe, Jim
A1  - Weaver, Bruce
A1  - Gibbons, Claire
A1  - Dubois, Sacha
SP  - 119
EP  - 135
VL  - 32
IS  - 2
N2  - Increasing data suggest that visual attention may be impaired in some older drivers, and that such impairment may be related to poorer driving abilities and a higher crash risk. Because effective scanning of the environment is important for safe driving, the authors sought to examine the relationship between a reflexive visual attention mechanism and driving. To examine this issue the authors conducted a preliminary study using the inhibition of return (IOR) paradigm, which has been labeled as a fundamental search mechanism. Forty-one drivers aged 55 and over completed two on-road driving evaluations and IOR testing. After accounting for the contribution of age, IOR statistically predicted overall driving evaluation scores (p = .045), and the number of errors in scanning the environment (p = .031). To the authors' knowledge these findings represent the first documentation of a relationship between IOR and driving. The results are informative regarding the importance of reflexive visual attention mechanisms towards safe driving.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0361-073X
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03610730500511918
ID  - ref1
ER  -