Cortical Activity while Riding Motorcycles Measured with a Wearable Near Infrared Topography System

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to clarify the cortical activity of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) while motorcycles were being ridden. Sixteen healthy right-handed men who use motorcycles in their daily lives were recruited. Their brain activity was measured using a prototype of wearable optical topography while they were actually riding a motorcycle. We found that their brain activation patterns, which reflect the cognitive strategies behind their riding behaviors, differed depending on whether they were users of road bikes or scooters. Also, DLPFC activity, which reflects an increase in cognitive and motor demands, was greater in riders of on-road type motorcycles than scooters.