A Comparison of Heart Rate and Heart Rate Variability Indices in Distinguishing Single-Task Driving and Driving Under Secondary Cognitive Workload

Heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) measures collected under actual highway driving from 25 young adults were compared to assess the relative sensitivity of each for distinguishing between a period of single task driving and periods of low and high additional cognitive workload. Basic heart rate, skin conductance and most, but not all, of the HRV indices were significantly different between single task driving and the high secondary demand period. Heart rate and skin conductance were also robust at distinguishing between single task driving and the low added demand period; however, several HRV measures did not show statistically significant differences between these two periods and the remaining HRV measures that did were less robust than basic heart rate as assessed by effect size and observed power. Rather than attempting to argue for the inherent superiority of any one physiological measure, these findings are presented with the intent of encouraging a broader discussion around the conditions under which particular physiological measures may be most useful and/or complementary for detecting different aspects of workload and operator state.

• Corporate Authors:

  University of Iowa, Iowa City

  Public Policy Center
  227 South Quadrangle
  Iowa City, IA  United States  52242-1192
• Authors:
  • Mehler, Bruce
  • Reimer, Bryan
  • Wang, Ying
• Conference:
  • Driving Assessment 2011: 6th International Driving Symposium on Human Factors in Driver Assessment, Training, and Vehicle Design
  • Location: Olympic Valley - Lake Tahoe CA
  • Date: 2011-6-27 to 2011-6-30
• Publication Date: 2011

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: CD-ROM
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 590-597
• Monograph Title: Proceedings of the 6th International Driving Symposium on Human Factors in Driver Assessment, Training, and Vehicle Design, Resort at Squaw Creek, Olympic Valley - Lake Tahoe, California, USA, June 27-30, 2011

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Driving; Heart; Heart rate; Physiological aspects; Young adults
• Uncontrolled Terms: Cognitive work analysis; Driver workload
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01349860
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 16 2011 1:56PM