AXA Research Project

About this project

The main objective of this project is to examine whether perceptual training, by impairing selective areas of the visual field, can enhance the ability to perceive and detect hazards and thus reduce the risk of accidents. Two large scale interdisplinary studies have been conducted.

Study 1

The aim of Study 1 was to provide a comprehensive examination of the role of central and peripheral vision in hazard perception ability of experienced and novice drivers. To this end, gaze-contingent display paradigm was used to selectively present information to central and peripheral parts of visual field.

12 experienced drivers and 12 novice drivers participated in this study. Eyelink 1000 (SR Research) and 32 channel EEG system (BioSemi) were used to measure eye movement and cortical activity (EEG) during simulated driving. 20 Hazard perception video clips (Imagitech Ltd., UK) were shown 3 different viewing conditions as below and all participants were asked to find hazardous situations while watching the video clips, and click the location of hazards as soon as detect them.

Full vision

Unrestricted vision

Moving window vision

Clear central and blurred peripheral vision

Moving mask vision

Burred central and clear peripheral vision

The findings of current study were as below:

Central vision is important in driving regardless of skill levels.
More importantly, blurring peripheral vision facilitates the processing of prominent information (i.e., hazards) by removing less relevant information from the visual field, and leads to more accurate performance especially for experienced drivers.
Blurring peripheral vision (i.e., moving window condition)
- Encourage efficient visual search strategies (longer fixation duration and shorter saccade amplitude)
- Increases focused attention, especially at electrodes located over brain areas associated with vision (Oz, O2) and perceptual-motor decision making (Cz, Fz).
Our finding paves the way for future research to use blurred peripheral vision as a training tool to enhance hazard perception ability

To see a sample test of study 1, please click here

Study 2

The aim of Study 2 was to develop a gaze-contingent training intervention to enhance hazard perception among learner drivers.

To this end, participants were randomly assigned to either full vision training group or moving window training group. Before and after training intervention (3 training sessions), all participants completed pretest, posttest and retention test.

Testing sessions(Pre, Post, Retention tests)

On the first day, all participant completed pre-test (40 trials of hazard perception test), and post-test after training intervention. Retention test was scheduled one month after post-test.

Task was similar to the Study 1, all participant were asked to find hazardous situations while watching the video clips and click the location of hazard as soon as detect them. Only two different viewing conditions were used in testing sessions (full vision and moving window vision)

Full vision

Normal vision

Moving window vision

Clear central and blurred peripheral vision

Training intervention (3 sessions)

Main task in training intervention was similar to the testing sessions. Feedback about correct hazardous situations were provided after each training trial by highlighting the locations of hazard with brief descriptions.

Full vision training group watched all the clips with full vision. However, moving window training group watched all the clips with clear central and blurred peripheral vision. 90 different hazard perception video clips were used (30 trials in each training session).

The findings of current study were as below:

Training intervention enhanced hazard perception ability (Both groups increased their hazard perception ability after training intervention.
More importantly, blurred peripheral vision (training by removing less relevant information from the visual field), leads to more accurate hazard perception as moving window training group showed higher accuracy than full vision training group.
No changed in eye movement behaviour before and after training intervention. Increases focused attention, especially at electrodes located over brain areas associated with sensory motor integration (Pz).
Blurred peripheral vision training facilitate hazard perception ability. This changes in performance was not because of the way of search strategy (no change in eye movement), rather it was because of which information they could pick up (accuracy related with fixations on hazards) and how they used this information for their response.

To see a sample test of study 2, please click here

This project is funded by AXA Research Fund.

This website is supported by the Bangor University ESRC Impact Acceleration Account

Gyda chefnogaeth Cyfrif Cyflymu Effaith yr ESRC Prifysgol Bangor

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