Impact of gaze shift deficits and effect of virtual reality training on driving-related visual search in Parkinson's disease.

Visual search is a key component of safe driving in novice and experienced drivers. Persons with Parkinsons disease (PD) demonstrate impaired visual search while driving. This deficit is determined by cognitive factors such as speed of visual processing, attention, and visuospatial skills. Yet, several studies argue that gaze shifts are deteriorated in PD and may impair visual search. Previous studies investigated gaze shifts under static conditions within a narrow field of view. Their results cannot be generalized to visual search in natural driving conditions that require a wide field of view. The first aim of this study is to investigate the impact of a wide field of view and a dynamic driving environment on head and eye movements, accuracy of gaze fixation and ocular pursuit in PD. A second aim is to investigate visual search patterns in a driving-related context and to determine the contribution of gaze shift deficits to visual search impairments in PD. A third aim is to carry out an adequately powered randomized controlled trial that investigates the effect of virtual reality training in a driving simulator on visual search and driving performance in persons with PD.

Keywords:Parkinson's disease, Ocular motility disorders, Automobile driving, Attention, Rehabilitation

Disciplines:Laboratory medicine, Palliative care and end-of-life care, Regenerative medicine, Other basic sciences, Other health sciences, Nursing, Other paramedical sciences, Other translational sciences, Other medical and health sciences