INFLUENCES OF VISUAL AND CONVERSATION LOADS UPON A FUNCTIONAL VISUAL FIELD WHILE DRIVING

Abstract

How the visual load and/or the conversation load influence functional visual field (FVF) during driving was studied experimentally. Red or pink circular target was briefly presented somewhere on a movie scene from driver's view in a car following situation, and the observer's task was to indicate the target position. The visual load for the observer was to read out the two alphabet letters presented in the center of the visual field. The conversation load was to answer to an easy question orally. The FVF narrowed with the visual load as well as with the conversation load, while it markedly shrinked when both visual and conversation loads were imposed simultaneously.