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Attention and Driving Performance Modulations Due to Anger State
Chapter 73
Attention and Driving Performance Modulations Due to Anger State: Contribution of Electroencephalographical Data Franck Techer1,2, Christophe Jallais1, Yves Corson2, Alexandra Fort1 1Université
de Lyon, IFSTTAR, TS2, LESCOT, Lyon, France; 2University of Nantes, LPPL, Nantes, France
Experiencing negative emotions such as anger in driving can promote driving errors.1–3 Anger, defined by a negative and highly arousing state, may impact attention and therefore the driving activity. In one hand, anger could have a positive impact on the alerting network efficiency4 and so may become useful when driving with advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) providing alerting cues. In another hand, negative emotions5 are commonly associated with attentional disruptions and mindwandering so that they may interfere with the use and the efficiency of ADAS. However, the relationship between emotions and attention while using ADAS is not well developed. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of anger on attention and driving performance while using an alerting system. For this purpose, 33 participants completed a simulated driving scenario once in an anger state and once in a natural mood. This scenario consisted in following a motorcycle on a simulated straight rural road. A warning system informed the participants about imminent motorcycle braking. Event-related potentials (ERP) were recorded so as to reflect attentional modulations that may be undetectable with behavioral data. Results indicated that anger impacted driving performance and attention, provoking an increase in lateral variations while reducing the amplitude of the visual N1 peak. To our knowledge, those results are the first to reveal such impact of an anger state on ERPs. However, further research is needed to corroborate this finding as well as assessing the impact of other emotions on ERPs in a driving environment. This kind of physiological data may be used to monitor driver state and provide specific help corresponding to their current needs.
REFERENCES 1. Stephens A, Groeger JA. Driven by anger: the causes and consequences of anger during virtual journeys. In: Advances in traffic psychology. Ashgate; 2012. p. 3–15. 2. Abdu R, Shinar D, Meiran N. Situational (state) anger and driving. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour 2012;15(5):575–80. 3. Roidl E, Frehse B, Hoeger R. Emotional states of drivers and the impact on speed, acceleration and traffic violations-A simulator study. Accident Analysis and Prevention 2014;70:282–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2014.04.010. 4. Techer F, Jallais C, Fort A, Corson Y. Assessing the impact of anger state on the three attentional networks with the ANT-I. Emotion 2015;15(3): 276–80. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0000028. 5. Smallwood J, Fitzgerald A, Miles LK, Phillips LH. Shifting moods, wandering minds: negative moods lead the mind to wander. Emotion 2009;9(2):271–6. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0014855.
FURTHER READING 1. Deffenbacher JL, Deffenbacher DM, Lynch RS, Richards TL. Anger, aggression and risky behavior: a comparison of high and low anger drivers. Behaviour Research and Therapy 2003;41(6):701–18. 2. Sullman MJM. The expression of anger on the road. Safety Science 2015;72:153–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2014.08.013.
Neuroergonomics. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-811926-6.00073-7 Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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Attention and Driving Performance Modulations Due to Anger State: Contribution of Electroencephalographical Data Franck Techer1,2, Christophe Jallais1, Yves Corson2, Alexandra Fort1 1Université
de Lyon, IFSTTAR, TS2, LESCOT, Lyon, France; 2University of Nantes, LPPL, Nantes, France
Experiencing negative emotions such as anger in driving can promote driving errors.1–3 Anger, defined by a negative and highly arousing state, may impact attention and therefore the driving activity. In one hand, anger could have a positive impact on the alerting network efficiency4 and so may become useful when driving with advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) providing alerting cues. In another hand, negative emotions5 are commonly associated with attentional disruptions and mindwandering so that they may interfere with the use and the efficiency of ADAS. However, the relationship between emotions and attention while using ADAS is not well developed. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of anger on attention and driving performance while using an alerting system. For this purpose, 33 participants completed a simulated driving scenario once in an anger state and once in a natural mood. This scenario consisted in following a motorcycle on a simulated straight rural road. A warning system informed the participants about imminent motorcycle braking. Event-related potentials (ERP) were recorded so as to reflect attentional modulations that may be undetectable with behavioral data. Results indicated that anger impacted driving performance and attention, provoking an increase in lateral variations while reducing the amplitude of the visual N1 peak. To our knowledge, those results are the first to reveal such impact of an anger state on ERPs. However, further research is needed to corroborate this finding as well as assessing the impact of other emotions on ERPs in a driving environment. This kind of physiological data may be used to monitor driver state and provide specific help corresponding to their current needs.
REFERENCES 1. Stephens A, Groeger JA. Driven by anger: the causes and consequences of anger during virtual journeys. In: Advances in traffic psychology. Ashgate; 2012. p. 3–15. 2. Abdu R, Shinar D, Meiran N. Situational (state) anger and driving. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour 2012;15(5):575–80. 3. Roidl E, Frehse B, Hoeger R. Emotional states of drivers and the impact on speed, acceleration and traffic violations-A simulator study. Accident Analysis and Prevention 2014;70:282–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2014.04.010. 4. Techer F, Jallais C, Fort A, Corson Y. Assessing the impact of anger state on the three attentional networks with the ANT-I. Emotion 2015;15(3): 276–80. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0000028. 5. Smallwood J, Fitzgerald A, Miles LK, Phillips LH. Shifting moods, wandering minds: negative moods lead the mind to wander. Emotion 2009;9(2):271–6. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0014855.
FURTHER READING 1. Deffenbacher JL, Deffenbacher DM, Lynch RS, Richards TL. Anger, aggression and risky behavior: a comparison of high and low anger drivers. Behaviour Research and Therapy 2003;41(6):701–18. 2. Sullman MJM. The expression of anger on the road. Safety Science 2015;72:153–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2014.08.013.
Neuroergonomics. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-811926-6.00073-7 Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
277