Reproducibility of the spectral components of the electroencephalogram during driver fatigue.
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.