Assessing the Impact of an Assistive Driving Device on Mental Workload and Stress During Simulated Driving: A Multivariate Approach

Driving with assistive devices creates complex cognitive and emotional demands that require systematic investigation. This study uses a multivariate approach based on subjective and objective measures to evaluate mental workload (MWL), stress and emotional state during simulated driving with an assistive device. Thirty healthy adults ((Formula presented.)  years of age, 7 females) completed four driving tasks combining two levels of difficulty (Easy vs. Hard) and two steering tools (wheel vs. single-pin aid). Subjective measures from NASA Task Load Index and Self-Assessment Manikin were collected, as well as physiological parameters from electroencephalographic, electrocardiographic, and electrodermal activity signals. The results revealed that the assistive device significantly induced increases in perceived physical demand, frustration, loss of emotional control and stress, yet reducing intrinsic sympathetic response represented by electrodermal activity parameters. Multivariate analyses highlighted that combining different physiological predictors improved MWL estimation. This study marks an initial step towards understanding the impact of assistive devices on MWL and stress in post-acute individuals returning to driving.