Scientific Reports (Apr 2022)

Naturalistic driving measures of route selection associate with resting state networks in older adults

  • Julie K. Wisch,
  • Catherine M. Roe,
  • Ganesh M. Babulal,
  • Nicholas Metcalf,
  • Ann M. Johnson,
  • Samantha Murphy,
  • Jamie Hicks,
  • Jason M. Doherty,
  • John C. Morris,
  • Beau M. Ances

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-09919-x
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 1
pp. 1 – 8

Abstract

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Abstract Our objective was to identify functional brain changes that associate with driving behaviors in older adults. Within a cohort of 64 cognitively normal adults (age 60+), we compared naturalistic driving behavior with resting state functional connectivity using machine learning. Functional networks associated with the ability to interpret and respond to external sensory stimuli and the ability to multi-task were associated with measures of route selection. Maintenance of these networks may be important for continued preservation of driving abilities.