Development of assesment and intervention method of patient with spatial neglect for driving

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K21506
• Project/Area Number (Other): 18H06431 (2018)
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund (2019); Single-year Grants (2018)
• Review Section: 0909:Sports sciences, physical education, health sciences, and related fields
• Research Institution: National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities
• Principal Investigator: Satoko Ohmatsu 国立障害者リハビリテーションセンター(研究所), 研究所 運動機能系障害研究部, 流動研究員 (10824849)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-08-24 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 半側空間無視 / 自動車運転 / 視線分析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Patients with unirateral spatial neglect (USN) who were experienced drivers and wanted to drive again were targeted. They were presented with a simple driving movie that we created,and were asked to watch it "as if you are driving". In this study, we analyzed their eye-tracking data while they watch it. The horizontal gaze distributions in healthy control were depending on their driving experience in each driving scene. In the cases with USN, gaze time per one gaze was longer and the number of gaze counts were fewer than control,In addition, there was less predictive leftward visual search during left curves and turns than in right ones. However, since some patients' gaze expanded to the left space compared to the abstract video, it is possible that the contextual element of the driving scene, which is accompanied by experience, may enhance awareness of the neglected space.

Free Research Field

リハビリテーション

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

近年自動車運転リハビリテーションが注目されており、運転シミュレーターを用いた報告にて認知能力や運転技能を評価し路上評価成績が運転再開可否の判断に役立つとされる。一方、リハビリテーションの立場では運転可否以上に、周囲の状況を認知して実際に操作・行動するまでの処理一連のどの段階に停滞があるかを把握することがその後のリハビリテーションを行う上で重要となる。本研究では、自動車運転動画視認中の視線分析を行うことで、周囲の状況を認知する段階での停滞を把握する手法を考案した。行動範囲の狭小化は生活の質を下げる大きな要因であることから、運転再開を検討する一つの手段として意義があるものと考えられる。