Driving Performance and Underlying Brain Activation Patterns in Chronic Stroke Patients

Resuming driving is an important priority for many stroke patients, yet persistent deficits may result in impaired driving performance. The present study used driving simulation and functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine whether stroke patients exhibit behavioural impairments and differences in brain activation patterns during driving tasks of varying complexity. Stroke patients committed more hazardous errors and errors at intersections, specifically when making complex left turns at intersections with oncoming traffic. Patients exhibited deviations from expected neural activation patterns during the most complex driving maneuver. The results of the present study suggest that stroke patients exhibit impairment during complex aspects of driving, specifically during intersections, and display altered patterns of neural activation as the perceptual and cognitive demands of the driving task increase. Further research is required to develop and validate existing screening measures and rehabilitation programs that target these specific driving impairments observed in functionally independent, chronic stroke patients.M.Sc