Reproducibility of the spectral components of the electroencephalogram during driver fatigue

Abstract Objective To date, no study has tested the reproducibility of EEG changes that occur during driver fatigue. For the EEG changes to be useful in the development of a fatigue countermeasure device the EEG response during each onset period of fatigue in individuals needs to be reproducible. It should be noted that fatigue during driving is not a continuous process but consists of successive episodes of ‘microsleeps’ where the subject may go in and out of a fatigue state. The aim of the present study was to investigate the reproducibility of fatigue during driving in both professional and non-professional drivers. Methods Thirty five non-professional drivers and twenty professional drivers were tested during two separate sessions of a driver simulator task. EEG, EOG and behavioural measurements of fatigue were obtained during the driving task. Results The results showed high reproducibility for the delta and theta bands ( r >0.95) in both groups of drivers. Conclusions The results are discussed in light of implications for future studies and for the development of an EEG based fatigue countermeasure device.