Exploring the Potential of Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) in Detecting Driver Vigilance Decrement: A Study on Prolonged Highway Driving

Traffic accidents resulting from a vigilance decrement contribute to a significant proportion of road incidents in Europe, with an estimated occurrence rate of 10% to 20%. To mitigate such accidents, it is crucial to detect the moments of vigilance decrement. This exploratory study investigated the potential utility of functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) in detecting vigilance decrement during prolonged highway driving. Grounded in cognitive resource theory and mindlessness theory, the research hypothesized correlations between fNIRS measures, subjective sleepiness measured by the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS), and specific driving performance indices, such as steering errors and instruction misses. However, multilevel models used for data analysis revealed no significant associations between these variables, thus not supporting the initial hypotheses. The results implied that the fNIRS measures employed in this study might not be adequate for detecting vigilance decrement in real-world driving scenarios. The research emphasized the need for a more comprehensive exploration, incorporating detailed assessments of driving experience and consistent instructional design between participants to enhance the relevance of fNIRS in predicting vigilance decrement. This study enriched the understanding of vigilance decrement and illuminated challenges and future research paths for the effective application of neuroimaging tools like fNIRS in assessing driver vigilance.