Basic study for a new assistive system based on brain activity associated with spatial perception task during car driving

Our purpose in this research is to contribute to developing of assistive robot and apparatus. Recently, there is a pressing need to develop a new system which assists and acts for car driving and wheelchair for the elderly as the population grows older. In terms of developing a new system, it is thought that it is important to examine behaviors as well as spatial recognition. So, experiments were performed for an examination of human spatial perceptions, especially right and left ones, during car driving using NIRS. In previous research, it has been documented that there were significant differences at dorsolateral prefrontal cortex at left hemisphere during virtual driving. In addition, significant differences were seen at similar regions during actual driving. In this time, detailed analysis about ocular motions was reported. The final goal of this study is to find a way to apply this result to new systems with functions that are responsive like human.