Short-Term EEG Patterns of Driver Drowsiness and their Relation to Crashes

Abstract

Microsleep (MS) and alpha burst (AB) patterns in the EEG of ten young drivers were detected. Their percentage within 1 min intervals was compared with independent variables of drowsiness: 1) lane tracking performance, 2) self-rating of sleepiness. In addition, the occurrence of both patterns immediately before crashes was investigated. Results offer remarkable differences. AB displays no time-since-sleep as well as no time-on-task effect. AB failed in predicting crashes. MS displays both effects and always occurred immediately before crashes.