Specific attention disorders in drivers with traumatic brain injury. (May 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Masson, Marjolaine; Michael, George Andrew; Désert, Jean-François; Rhein, François; Foubert, Lucie; Colliot, Pascale
• Is Part Of: Brain injury. Volume 27:Number 5(2013)
• Page Start: 538
• Page End: 547
• Publication Date: 2013-05
• Subjects: Brain damage -- Periodicals; Brain -- Wounds and injuries -- Periodicals; Brain Injuries -- Periodicals; 617.481
• DOI: 10.3109/02699052.2013.766926
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-9052

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p> <italic>Objective</italic>: To highlight the impact of the increasing attentional load on performance of both normal drivers and drivers with traumatic brain injury.</p> <p> <italic>Background</italic>: Patients with brain injury have a higher accident risk than people with no brain injury [1], probably as a result of persistent attention disorders.</p> <p> <italic>Method</italic>: Ten patients and 10 paired controls took part in a computerized selective attention task involving specific attentional processes. They were asked to monitor a speedometer and to ignore sudden changes in the surrounding environment in three separate experimental situations involving different attentional load.</p> <p> <italic>Results</italic>: Although, in the control situation, patients' results were equivalent to controls', they displayed specific disorders in more complex situations where the attentional load increased.</p> <p> <italic>Conclusion</italic>: These difficulties may have a negative impact on real driving situations.</p> </abstract>