Impact of emotional load on neurophysiologic activity and decision-making processes : application to driving
Autonomic activity is a correlate of mental and emotional load, even when stimulations are brief and of low intensity.This activity is especially sensitive to the perceived difficulty, but also to a particular form of emotional induction, theinjustice. Therefore, we used these autonomic measures as dependent variables of mental/emotional loadundergone by drivers, under more or less demanding conditions.A heavy braking elicited long and ample autonomic responses, correlate of a strong load. The focus of attention wasgreater in stressful driving conditions, needed to get ready to respond to the possible change of the color of thetraffic light.We showed, from magnetoencephalographic recordings, that under high time pressure, drivers who tended to breakthe lights showed higher activation in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. They continuously operated a trade-offbetween the simultaneous respect of the traffic law and of the experimental instructions thus making the motorresponse selection harder.We also evidenced that the autonomic activity reliably paralleled the central activity. The activation of the leftanterior cingulate cortex decreased both electrodermal and cardiac activities.Due to their impaired cognitive abilities, ageing citizens might become anxious during driving situations consideredbenign by young drivers. It is necessary to provide them simple recommendations in order that they address the roadmore serenely.