CEAE PhD Defense: Chao Wang: Impact of Car-Cabin Environmental Parameters on Driving Performance: A Multimodal Approach

My PhD thesis investigates the intricate relationship between Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) and human cognitive performance, addressing critical knowledge gaps with significant implications for various domains, such as the in-car environment and cognitive performance during driving. My research comprises three distinct projects, each contributing to a comprehensive understanding of this complex relationship. The first project involves a systematic literature review that emphasizes the substantial impact of IEQ factors, including indoor air quality, lighting conditions, and thermal environments, on cognitive performance. These findings underscore the paramount importance of monitoring and enhancing these environmental aspects to sustain optimal cognitive proficiency. In the second project, I explore the hitherto uncharted territory of in-car environmental factors, specifically investigating the effects of CO2 levels and body odors on driving performance. My comprehensive study design incorporates various cognitive and physiological measurements such as electrocardiogram (ECG), electroencephalography (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), revealing nuanced and complex effects of CO2 levels and body odors on driving performance and cognition. These findings carry significant implications for road safety and driving performance. The third project centers on the Hue-Heat Hypothesis, focusing on the interplay between interior ambient lighting and temperature within the context of driving. While the results indicate limited combined effects of lighting and temperature on comfort-related factors, temperature exhibits a notable influence on drivers’ in-car environment acceptance. These findings contribute to ongoing efforts to optimize the in-car environment for enhanced driving experiences. Collectively, my research addresses critical gaps in our understanding of the intricate relationship between CO2 levels, body odor, lighting, temperature, and human cognitive and driving performance. The study concerning the hue-heat hypothesis during driving will discern distinctions in driving data, survey responses, and N-back cognitive results across various driving conditions. I will expand the research to classify brain responses and physiological reactions associated with different lighting and temperature conditions using a fusion model that incorporates features derived from physiological data.