This video caught my attention as Dr. Doebel starts out by talking about how difficult it is to learn to drive. She explained that it was not due to her learning later on in life rather than at 16 but she would come back from her lessons totally wiped out. The stress and fatigue was due to heavy use of her brain's executive function.
TED Talk Video
In this short video, cognitive scientist Sabine Doebel explores the factors that affect executive functions and how you can use it to break bad habits and achieve your goals.
What is Executive Function?
Executive function is critical for safe driving, involving skills like working memory, impulse control, planning, and flexibility, allowing drivers to adapt to complex situations, avoid distractions (like texting), manage speed, and respond to hazards, with deficits linked to risky behaviours and crashes, especially in young or ADHD drivers.
Strong executive function helps drivers maintain situational awareness, plan ahead, and inhibit risky actions. Poor executive function can lead to speeding, distracted driving, and accidents, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
Key Executive Functions for Driving
Would you like to be a better driver? There is really no quick fix she says, you have to develop goals and strategies for yourself and then work at them.
- Planning & Prioritizing: Mapping routes, anticipating hazards.
- Attention & Focus: Sustaining attention, filtering distractions.
- Working Memory: Remembering speed limits, following GPS.
- Flexibility/Set-Shifting: Adapting to unexpected traffic or road changes.
- Inhibition: Stopping inappropriate actions (e.g., speeding, texting).
Help Improving Executive Function for Drivers
Occupational therapists work with clients to assess their strengths and weaknesses, develop personalized intervention plans, and implement targeted strategies to improve executive functions.
The overall goal of occupational therapy for people with executive function deficits is to improve their ability to function independently and successfully perform their daily activities or occupations.
Learn More
Share This Article
As a driver with many years experience, who mostly has tried to do better all the time - better being undefined here, you'll notice - I appreciated that piece.
Mind you, I still reckon I would be a better driver than her, in pretty much every circumstance. But she does make you think.
- Log in to post comments
- Log in to post comments
That was very good.