Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mental workload of increasing driving speed, from 60 km/h to 180 km/h, when operating a driving simulator. The evaluation, based on changes in facial temperature and electrodermal activity, showed that the difference between nose and forehead temperature increased, that the skin potential level decreased, and that the skin conductance level increased. Monitoring facial temperature and electrodermal activity were both found to be effective in evaluating the mental workload involved.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Backs, R. W. and Boucsein, W. (2000). Engineering Psychophysiology: Issues & Applications. CRC Press. New Jersey.
De Maarten, V., Stephanie, R., Katrien, V., Bart, V., Francois-Xavier, A., Van Sabine, H. and Boris, B. (2010). Removal of muscle artifacts from EEG recordings of spoken language. Production Neuroinform, 8, 135–150.
Fairclough, S. H., Ashby, M. C. and Parkes, A. M. (1993). In-vehicle displays, visual workload and usability evaluation, Amsterdam. Vision in Vehicles IV, Elsevier, 245–254.
Getchel, R. J. and Lott, G. G. (1978). Phycological response pattering in short- and long-term heart reye control training. Biol. Psychol., 6, 259–266.
Hart, S. G. and Staveland, L. E. (1988). Development of NASA-TLX (Task Load Index): Results of Empirical and Theoretical Research. Human Mental Workload. Amsterdam. Elsevier. 139–183.
Hill, S. G., Iavecchia, H. P., Byers, J. C., Bittner, A. C., Zaklad, A. L. and Christ, R. E. (1992). Comparison of four subjective workload rating scales. Human Factors, 34, 429–439.
Hjälmdahl, M. and Várhelyi, A. (2004). Speed regulation by in-car active acclerator pedal effects on driver behavior. Transportation Research Part F, 7, 77–94.
Mulder, L. J. M. (1992). Measurement and analysis methods of heart rate and respiration for use in applied environments. Biological Psychology, 34, 205–236.
Nickel, P. and Nachreiner, F. (2003). Sensitivity and diagnosticity of the 0.1 Hz component of heart rate variability as an indicator of mental workload. Human Factors, 45, 575–590.
O’Donnell, R. D. and Eggemeier, F. T. (1986). Workload Assessment Methodology. Handbook of Perception and Human Performance. John Wiley. New York.
Pomeranz, B., Macaulay, R. J., Caudill, M. A., Kutz, I., Adam, D., Gordon, D., Kilborn, K. M., Barger, A. C., Shannon, D. C. and Cohen, R. J. (1985). Assessment of autonomic function in humans by heart rate spectral analysis. Am. J. Physiol, 248, H151–H153.
Schwaberger, G. (1987). Heart rate, metabolic and hormonalresponses to maximal psycho-emotional and physical stress in motor car racing drivers. Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health, 59, 579.
Vapnik, V. N. (1998). Statistical Learning Theory. John Wiley & Sons. New York.
Wickens, C. D. and Hollands, J. G. (2000). Engineering Psychology and Human Performance. 3rd edn. Upper Prentice Hall. New Jersey.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kajiwara, S. Evaluation of driver’s mental workload by facial temperature and electrodermal activity under simulated driving conditions. Int.J Automot. Technol. 15, 65–70 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12239-014-0007-9
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12239-014-0007-9