Abstract
BackgroundAge-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.MethodsA 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.ResultsOlder 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.ConclusionsConsidering 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.
Highlights
Age-related changes affect driving ability, including the smoothness of driving
Concerning between-group differences in the smoothness of driving, we found significant differences in root mean square (RMS) Δ 3 (t = 0.56, p = 0.03) (Fig. 6) and the variance value of RMS Δ 3 (t = 0.24, p = 0.01) (Fig. 7), whereby the variance value of RMS Δ 3 was lower in the young group compared with the older group
The CTP-B score was significantly lower in the older group, which suggests that allocentric spatial perception is more difficult for older drivers, by adding processing in the allocentric reference frame evaluated by CPT-B to processing in the egocentric reference frame evaluated by CPT-A
Summary
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); with age, a greater preference for egocentric strategies is evident when driving. Spatial navigation ability is essential for everyday living, allowing us to be cognizant of our position and orientation in our environment This ability consists of several components, spatial memory, sensorimotor information, sense of direction, and spatial reference frames (the egocentric frame and the allocentric frame). Successful spatial navigation required translation of encoded survey-level map information for orientation and implementation of a planned route to the goal and mainly relies on two codependent strategies: allocentric and egocentric navigation strategies These strategies use different types of spatial reference frames but are highly correlated [2]. It is thought that there is a problem that it is difficult to switch between spatial navigation components using the frontal lobe responsible for the executive function in even normal people These problems can cause the driver to get in the wrong direction, delay the time to change lanes, and not drive smoothly
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
