Effectiveness of two cognitive training programs on the performance of older drivers with a cognitive self-assessment bias

Depending on the calibration of their cognitive abilities, some older drivers (ODs) might stop driving prematurely (under-estimators, UEs) and others could expose themselves to risky situations (over-estimators, OEs). The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of two cognitive training (CT) programs intended for ODs presenting a cognitive calibration bias. We hypothesized that CT with feedback on performance can help ODs to correctly calibrate their abilities and consequently adapt their driving behavior. One hundred and six ODs (≥70 years) were assigned to two CT groups (with or without a driving simulator experience, DS). These interventions lasted about 36 h and were distributed over a 3-month period. ODs completed objective and subjective cognitive evaluations and an on-road driving evaluation before and after training. The first results on 67 participants (40 from the CT group, and 27 from the CT + DS group) showed an improvement of their visual processing speed, their divided attention and their selective attention after training. Participants from both groups also had an improved TRIP tactical sub-score (Test Ride for Investigating Practical fitness to drive), indicating a better driving behavioral adaptation. Finally, although both training programs seemed to be equally effective in correcting cognitive calibration bias, the results indicated that 21 UEs and 10 OEs were well calibrated and thus correctly self-assessed their cognitive abilities after training. Both CT programs (with or without DS experience) seem to improve the visual attention of ODs. UEs appeared to be more susceptible than OEs to this training and were better calibrated after it.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.1007/s12544-016-0207-7
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/18668887
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2016 Marion Hay et al. The contents of this paper reflect the views of the author[s] and do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the Transportation Research Board or the National Academy of Sciences.
• Authors:
  • Hay, Marion
  • Adam, Nicolas
  • Bocca, Marie-Laure
  • Gabaude, Catherine
• Publication Date: 2016-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: 13p
• Serial:
  • European Transport Research Review
  • Volume: 8
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Springer Publishing
  • ISSN: 1866-8887
  • EISSN: 1867-0717
  • Serial URL: http://link.springer.com/journal/12544
• Publication flags:

  Open Access (libre)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aged drivers; Behavior; Cognition; Driving simulators; Fitness to drive; Training
• Subject Areas: Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01608979
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 29 2016 11:15AM