How Does Approaching a Lead Vehicle and Monitoring Request Affect Drivers’ Takeover Performance? A Simulated Driving Study with Functional MRI

With the popularization and application of conditionally automated driving systems, takeover requirements are becoming more and more frequent, and the subsequent takeover safety problems have attracted attention. The present study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technology, combined with driving simulation experiments, to study in depth the effects of critical degree and monitor request (MR) 30 s in advance on drivers’ visual behavior, takeover performance and brain activation. Results showed that MR can effectively improve the driver’s visual and takeover performance, including visual reaction times, fixation frequency and duration, takeover time, and takeover mode. The length of the reserved safety distance can significantly affect the distribution of longitudinal acceleration. Critical or non-critical takeover has a significant impact on the change of pupil diameter and the standard deviation of lateral displacement. Five brain regions, including the middle occipital gyrus (MOG), fusiform gyrus (FG), middle temporal gyrus (MTG), precuneus and precentral, are activated under the stimulation of a critical takeover scenario, and are related to cognitive behaviors such as visual cognition, distance perception, memory search and movement association.

Visual Reaction Time: How it Relates to Body Mass Index, Dominant and Non-dominant Hand in Healthy Young Females

Reaction time is an indirect index of the processing speed of the central nervous system. It is affected by several factors including dominant and non-dominant hands and obesity. Obesity can be measured by body mass index. Thus, the aim of this study was to find out the relationship between body mass index, dominant and non-dominant hand with visual reaction time in healthy young females. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, among 89 females. The height and weight were recorded, and the body mass index was calculated. The subjects were divided into four groups, underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese according to WHO criteria. Visual reaction time was measured using the ruler drop method in milliseconds. The data were analyzed by using the paired t-test and one-way ANOVA using the IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 22. Out of 89 participants, 26 (29.21%) were underweight, 47 (52.80%) had normal weight, 12 (13.48%) and four (4.49%) were overweight and obese with mean reaction time in the dominant hand and non-dominant hand were (176.75±16.68 vs. 186.58±16.21), (175.12±15.03 vs. 185.43±15.64), (188.74±16.07 vs. 190.70±17.88), and (200.7±9.77 vs. 210.50±9.50) respectively. All participants were right-handers. In right-handers, the right hand reacted faster than the left hand. Reaction time was prolonged in underweight, overweight,and obese; when compared with normal weight individuals. Our study showed that the reaction time of people appears to be influenced by body mass index, dominant, and non-dominant hand, which was an indirect measure of the sensory motor association.

From When to When: Evaluating Naturalness of Reaction Time via Viewing Turn around Behaviors

This paper addresses the effects of visual reaction times of a turn around behavior toward touch stimulus in the context of perceived naturalness. People essentially prefer a quick and natural reaction time to interaction partners, but appropriate reaction times will change due to the kinds of partners, e.g., humans, computers, and robots. In this study, we investigate two visual reaction times in touch interaction: the time length from the touched timing to the start of a reaction behavior, and the time length of the reaction behavior. We also investigated appropriate reaction times for different beings: three robots (Sota, Nao and Pepper) and humans (male and female). We conducted a web-survey based experiment to investigate natural reaction times for robots and humans, and the results concluded that the best combinations of both reaction times are different between each robot (i.e., among Sota, Nao and Pepper) and the humans (i.e., between male and female). We also compared the effect of using the best combinations for each robot and human to prove the importance of using each appropriate reaction timing for each being. The results suggest that an appropriate reaction time combination investigated from the male model is not ideal for robots, and the combination investigated from the female model is a better choice for robots. Our study also suggests that calibrating parameters for individual robots’ behavior design would enable better performances than using parameters of robot behaviors based on observing human-human interaction, although such an approach is a typical method of robot behavior design.

Examining of the Effects of Target-Oriented Circular Training on Biomotor Features by using Tennis Ball Throwing Machine at 12-14 Age Tennis Performance Sportsmen for 10 weeks

Aim: In this work, it is aimed that examining the effects of target-oriented circular training on biomotoric features by using a tennis ball throwing machine at 12-14 age tennis performance sportsmen for ten weeks. Method: This research was implemented on sixteen active licensed athletes who played tennis for at least four years in Ankara. The athletes were randomly divided into two separate groups as the experimental group (n=8) and the control group (n=8). After measuring the height, weight, and fat rate of the athletes, biometric tests were started. Flamingo balance, sit-reach, reaction time, five meters and twenty meters sprints, T-test, and standing long jump tests were performed, respectively. Athletes were get heated for ten minutes before the tests and they were given a trying chance. The best scores were recorded by repeating each test twice. In the statistical analysis of the collected data, IBM SPSS 19 package program was used. In repeated measurements, the results were compared by two-way ANOVA with intergroup, intragroup and post-training data. Results: As a result, between the experimental group and control group data; on averages of T-Test (p<0.139), visual reaction (p<0.001), Flexibility (p<0.024), Vertical Jump (p<0.022), Flamingo Balance right foot (p<0.046) and left foot (p<0.045) statistical significance was confirmed. Keywords: Biomotoric features, ITN test, Tennis, Tennis ball machine

Visual Reaction Time: A Tool for Reducing Road Traffic Collisions and Driving Simulator.

Objective- Attenuating post lockdown vehicular speed by employing visual reaction time as a tool to prime the citizens for creating decorum of driving and checking the road traffic fatalities.Background- It is indispensable to curb the driving speed post lockdown to avoid accidents. Even though, the impact of inactivity on RT has been well established, an insight into the new method can deal with the gross issue of road traffic casualty worldwide. Method- Using a web-based platform (http://physicsiology.com), quantification of post lockdown speed was achieved for 643 participants under average speed before lockdown and RT measurement. Results- Compared to pre lockdown vehicular speed, reduced post lockdown speed was well calculated and suggested. Also, there was a correlation between RT, age, and days of lockdown.Conclusions- Containment of speed can be achieved to prime people through RT. Additionally, RT can determine the rate of change of frequency (ROCOF) for detecting the swiftness of action (i.e., the brain's ability to deal with the transition between reaction times of different events) required for averting road traffic collisions. Compelling to suggest a need for a humanoid simulator that can garner real-time data.Application- Suggesting a fresh outlook for designing a contraption for a better appraisal of the fleet in driving skills, thus beaconing the course towards restraining road traffic fatalities

Psychomotor function in children with epilepsy seen at a tertiary hospital in southern Nigeria: does treatment with anti-epileptic drugs have any effect?

Background Psychomotor slowing is more commonly reported in children with epilepsy (CWE) compared to healthy controls. The effect of anti-epileptic drug (AED) treatment on psychomotor abilities of CWE remains controversial. In Nigeria, psychomotor abilities of CWE are scarcely investigated and the impact of AEDs is not known. The present study sought to assess psychomotor performance of CWE compared to healthy controls and to determine any association with seizure characteristics and treatment. Method A comparative cross-sectional study involving 160 children with idiopathic epilepsy and 80 controls aged 6–16 years. Psychomotor function was assessed using reaction times and tapping task of the Iron psychology computerised test battery. The criterion for impairment was fixed at two standard deviations (SD) worse than the mean of age-matched controls. The relationship between seizure variables and psychomotor function was assess with the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Result Fifty-nine (36.9%) CWE had impaired auditory reaction, 50 (31.3%) with impaired visual reaction and 11 (6.9%) had fine motor control impairment. There was no significant difference in psychomotor performance between CWE on AED and the newly diagnosed counterparts yet to start AED treatment (auditory reaction time—p = 0.226; visual reaction time—p = 0.349; tapping task—p = 0.818). AED treatment duration over 5 years was associated with better auditory reaction time (F = 4.631, p = 0.034) in CWE. Also, seizure onset before 5 years of age was associated with slower auditory reaction (F = 4.912, p = 0.028) and verbal reaction (F = 14.560, p < 0.001). Conclusion Nigerian CWE perform less favourably on tests of psychomotor function than healthy controls. The performance of children on AED is not significantly different from those not on AED. Longer duration of AED treatment may result in psychomotor improvement in CWE. CWE should be closely monitored for psychomotor slowness so that deficits can be identified and appropriate interventions instituted.

CORRELATION OF GLYCOSYLATED HEMOGLOBIN LEVELS WITH AUDITORY AND VISUAL REACTION TIME IN DIABETICS

Relevance. Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic disorders wherein hyperglycemia occurs either due to lack of insulin secretion and/or reduced insulin sensitivity of the tissues. One of the commonest complications of diabetes is neuropathy and its severity will depend on how long and how high the hyperglycemia has been prevalent. Chronic hyperglycemia in diabetes affects the peripheral nerves and slows psychomotor responses in persons who do not have proper glycemic control. This decreased psychomotor response because improper glycemic control affects the reaction time in diabetics. Objective: to assess and compare the auditory and visual reaction time in group-1 and group-2 diabetics and to correlate it with glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in both the groups. Methods. The study was conducted on 60 subjects aged between 40-50 years after obtaining the permission of the ethical committee of our institution. The group consisted of 60 well-controlled diabetic patients (HbA1c < 7%) with a history of diabetes for 1-10 years attending the medical OPD of Basaveshwar teaching and general hospital, Gulbarga. Diabetics with HbA1c 5-6% were grouped as group-1 and those with HbA1c 6-7% as group 2. The visual reaction time for a green and red light and auditory reaction time for tone and click sound were measured by using reaction time apparatus 2x4, Anand agencies Pune. HbA1c was done by the micro-column method. Results. The visual and auditory reaction time of diabetics with HbA1c 5-6% was faster as compared to the diabetics with HbA1c 6-7% with P< 0.001 and a statistically significant positive correlation was found between HbA1c levels and the visual and auditory reaction time. Conclusion. Poor glycemic control slows psychomotor responses and thus affects the visual and auditory reaction time.

Study of Acute Effect of Caffeine on Cognition among Adults - A Cross Sectional Study from Puducherry, India

BACKGROUND Information processing has substantial role in performing intellectual activities such as thinking, reasoning, remembering, imagining, or learning. Caffeine being a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant, improves mental performance, especially on alertness, attention, concentration and learning depending on the quantity of intake. In the present study, an attempt was made to study the effect of caffeine on cognitive processing in healthy individuals. METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted on 50 subjects at Mahatma Gandhi Medical College & Research Institute. Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) questionnaire was utilized to assess the level of cognition of each subject. Visual reaction time (VRT), auditory reaction time (ART) and critical fusion frequency (CFF) prior and after consumption of 75 mg of caffeine in 200 ml of milk, pre and post reaction time measurement were taken from the subject to address the difference in reaction time. RESULTS Both visual and auditory reaction time were significantly reduced (P < 0.001) after intake of caffeine. The ability of the subject to appreciate the flickering light stimuli to be steady (critical flicker fusion frequency) had significantly improved to 15 % after caffeine intake. CONCLUSIONS Decrease in visual and auditory reaction and increase in critical flicker fusion frequency values indicate that caffeine increases alertness thereby it may enhance performance efficiency in reasoning, planning, judgment, organizing, concept formation, and problem solving. KEY WORDS Visual Reaction Time, Auditory Reaction Time, MoCA

Determinants of Reactive Agility in Tests with Different Demands on Sensory and Motor Components in Handball Players

This study investigates the relationship between reactive agility and reaction speed, sprint speed, and muscle strength and their contribution to Y-shaped agility test and reactive agility test (RAT) performance in handball players. Seven handball players performed a Y-shaped agility test and RAT, simple and choice-based reaction time test, reaction test to fast and slow generated visual stimuli, 5 m and 20 m sprint tests, a 505 Agility test, a squat jump, a countermovement jump, and a drop jump. The results reveal a significant relationship between the times for the Y-shaped agility test and the 20 m sprint (r = 0.777, p = 0.040, R = 0.604), as well as the time for the 505 Agility test (r = 0.770, p = 0.043, R2 = 0.593), and RSI (r = −0.755, p = 0.050, R2 = 0.570); however, no relationship was found with parameters pertaining to reaction speed. RAT performance did not significantly correlate with RSI, time in the 505 Agility test, squat jump height, time in the 20 m sprint, and reaction time to fast generated visual stimuli, although large effect sizes were found (r > 0.5). It seems that the contribution of sensory and motor components depends on the structure of the agility test. While the Y-shaped agility test is mainly determined by sprinting, the change of direction speed, and reactive strength, there is the tendency for the reactive agility test to be determined by strength, speed, and visual reaction time.