Towards testing auditory–vocal interfaces and detecting distraction while driving: A comparison of eye-movement measures in the assessment of cognitive workload

• Study examined cognitive workload induced by the n-back task while driving.
• Selected eye-movements measures were analyzed.
• Change in pupil size was the most sensitive measure of cognitive workload.
• Less sensitive measures included changes in fixation location and blink rate.

Recently, there has been a growing need among researchers to understand the problem of cognitive workload induced by auditory–verbal–vocal tasks while driving in realistic conditions. This is due to the fact that we need (a) valid methods to evaluate in-vehicle electronic devices using voice control systems and (b) experimental data to build more reliable driver state monitoring systems. In this study, we examined the effects of cognitive workload induced by the delayed digit recall task (n-back) while driving. We used a high-fidelity driving simulator and a highway scenario with moderate traffic to study eye movements in realistic driving conditions. This study included 46 participants, and the results indicate that a change in pupil size is most sensitive for measuring changes in cognitive demand in auditory–verbal–vocal tasks. Less sensitive measures included changes in fixation location and blink rate. Fixation durations and the driving performance metrics did not provide sensitive measures of graded levels of cognitive demand.