Exploring the Relationship between Electroencephalography (EEG) and Ordinary Driving Behavior: A Simulated Driving Study

Driving behavior studies based on electroencephalography (EEG) have mostly investigated the relationship between various risky driving behaviors and brain activity, while only a few studies have discussed the relationship between ordinary driving behavior (drivers’ behavior in normal situations) and brain activity. To bridge the gap, we conducted a driving simulator experiment to collect data on ordinary driving behavior, including acceleration, space headway, speed, time headway, lane deviation, and amplitude of steering wheel movements. At the same time, the amplitude, log-transformed power (LTP), and power spectral density of EEG were extracted as EEG features. The quantitative relationships between ordinary driving behavior features and EEG features were investigated, where power spectrum analysis was performed to process EEG signals and Pearson correlation analysis was utilized for statistical analysis. The results indicated that ordinary driving behavior relates to all four brain regions, especially the temporal, occipital, and frontal regions. β-LTP was found to be most relevant to ordinary driving behavior. Furthermore, acceleration, speed, and space headway may have potential correlation with EEG features (e.g., β-LTP). These findings improve our understanding of the correlation between brain activity and driving behavior, and show potential for application in transportation safety, such as advanced driver assistance systems design.