Surrounding Traffic Matters: Increases in Traffic Volume Are Related to Changes in EEG Rhythms in Urban Cyclists

Abstract

In this study, we used an oddball EEG bicycle paradigm to study how changes in urban environments elicit changes in EEG markers. Participants completed an auditory oddball task while riding in three different cycling lane environments. A low traffic condition where participants rode in a fully separated bike lane alongside a quiet residential street, an intermediate traffic condition where participants rode alongside a busy residential street in a painted lane, and a heavy traffic condition where participants rode alongside fast/heavy traffic on a shared-use path. Relative to the low traffic, heavy traffic was associated with faster reaction time and a trend towards reduced accuracy, and increased N1 amplitude evoked by the standard tones. We attribute this difference in N1 amplitude to different attentional demands evoked by the different traffic conditions. In this fashion, heavy traffic requires greater auditory filtering. Furthermore, we found no differences in P3 amplitude associated with the traffic conditions. We discuss the implications of mobile paradigms to study attention in real-world settings.

State of the art and future directions for measuring event-related potentials during cycling exercise: a systematic review

“…In the end, a total of 17 studies were retained. The remaining three studies included in the review ( Zink et al, 2016 ; Scanlon et al, 2017 ; Robles et al, 2022 ) were not found during the search, as they do not contain the exact phrase “event-related potentials” in their full text. They were identified through previous searches with other equations or from references in the selected articles.…”

“…In the study by Grego et al (2004) the aim was to assess the effect of the duration of a long bout of athletic cycling on physiology and attention. In Scanlon et al (2020) and Robles et al (2022) the aim was to compare the effect of more or less noisy or hectic environments during outdoor cycling. The studies’ objectives regarding ERP are briefly summarized in Table 1 .…”

“…Even more advanced, Scanlon et al (2020) investigated the effect of environmental noise under natural conditions on auditory ERPs while cycling. Finally, in Robles et al (2022) , the aim was to study how a change in urban environment (more or less noisy) caused changes in attentional marker ERPs.…”

“…The other studies mixed both sexes. However, the sex of participants was not specified in Robles et al (2022) . The study by Killane, Browett & Reilly (2013) did not give an average age.…”

“…In Olson, Cleveland & Materia (2023) intensity was calculated as HRmax = 220 − age. However, most studies ( Killane, Browett & Reilly, 2013 ; Vogt et al, 2015 ; Zink et al, 2016 ; Scanlon et al, 2017 ; Kuziek et al, 2018 ; Scanlon et al, 2019 , 2020 ; Akaiwa et al, 2022 ; Robles et al, 2022 ) did not give a precise value for intensity but rather, simply indicated “subaerobic”, “low” or “moderate” intensity to qualify cycling intensity, as indicated in Table 4 detailing the exercise conditions in the included studies.…”