How does interior car noise alter driver's perception of motion? Multisensory integration in speed perception

Acoustic feedback inside a car is composed of different sources, which give information on the driver’s actions and the dynamic state of the car. This acoustic feedback influences the driver’s perception of movement in a multisensory integration. The development of electric motorizations brings new balance between noise sources inside the car, due to the loss of engine sound that is present in traditional internal combustion engine cars. To study the influence of this modified noise source balance on driving, we focused on speed perception. A car simulator was used for this purpose. 24 participants were asked to accelerate up to a given target speed, while the speedometer was hidden. We studied the speed they actually reached with three acoustic feedbacks (engine, electric motor, no sound), in two visual conditions (night and day). We found out that acoustic feedback can alter the driver’s speed perception.

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