Effects of Age and Memory Grouping on Simulated Car Driving

Abstract

The effects of an onboard visual memory task on simulated car driving were investigated in 20 young and 20 elderly drivers. Three experimental tasks (memory, driving, and dual task) were conducted in this study. Grouping of the presented memory words was manipulated by color, size, shape, and location. Results showed that grouping only improves memory for young people, but not for elderly in the memory-alone condition. No memory improvement by the grouping arrangement was found in the driving situation. However, reaction time to red light and number of driving errors showed that grouping did play an important role for elderly, but not for young subjects. The concurrent memory task significantly increased elderly subjects' reaction times. Color grouping, however, led to relatively fast reaction times and fewer driving errors. Possible reasons for the age-dependent grouping effect during driving and the implications of this effect for the development of onboard instruments are discussed.