Talking while driving impairs eye movements that are essential for perceiving dangers in traffic.
The warning has been around for years and years: talking on a cell phone while driving increases the risk of road accidents.
But there is another subject, similar, but much less discussed: talk behind the wheel. Having a conversation while driving, even if it is with the person next to you.
This can also be dangerous. Even without a device in between. But how? Interferes with what? Do they delay reactions, reduce perception of the live situation?
This went further: talking behind the wheel interrupts eye movements that precede physical reactions.
The researchers conclude that cognitive distractions associated with speech significantly impact physical reactions in response to visual information; that increases the risk of accidents while driving.
The visual and motor coordination required for driving includes gaze behavior, cognitive processes, and responsive physical actions.
Participants in this study made center-out eye movements toward a peripheral visual target as quickly and accurately as possible in three different conditions: while speaking (answering different questions), while listening to audio excerpts (a book), or while doing nothing other than the eye movement task.
Scientists found an obvious difference: whoever was speaking was late in reacting, moving and even adjusting – fixing the gaze on a peripherally presented visual target. This compared to the other groups.
In other words, the researchers argue, the cognitive load associated with speech will have a strong enough impact to interfere with the neural processes responsible for initiating and controlling eye movement.
Delayed physical responses and/or impairments in driving performance in cognitively demanding situations may originate, in part, from delayed visual responses to surrounding events, followed by less precise control of eye movement when directing and maintaining fixation on these stimuli.
The thing is, while driving, looking is extremely important: 90% of the information used to drive is acquired visuallyreinforces .
In other words, here’s a warning: conversations behind the wheel, even in person, can interfere with the neural processes that initiate and guide eye movements.
