EFFECT OF DIFFERENT VEHICLE SPEEDS ON MENTAL FATIGUE IN HEALTHY DRIVERS. IN: HUMAN FACTORS IN DRIVING AND TELEMATICS, AND SEATING COMFORT

Abstract

This study investigated the autonomic responses in healthy subjects during a two hour driving with variable speeds. The analysis of the heartrate variability was measured by using power spectral analysis. The results indicated that different vehicle speeds have significant influence on the sympathovagal balance associated with changes in high frequency and low frequency components of heart rate variability in a healthy driver during the test period. Additionally, the results showed that different vehicle speeds induced different parasympathetic nerve activity change level. Also, sympathovagal balance changes were induced by different parasympathetic nerve activities.