Presented at First international conference on driver distraction and inattention (DDI 2009), Gothenburg, Sweden, September 28-29, 2009

This paper reports a study aiming to describe the attentional network interactions in two populations: experienced and un-experienced drivers. Specially, this work studies the Three Attentional Networks (Orienting, Executive Function and Alerting) and the role that the variable driving experience play in their functioning. The ANTI task (Attentional Network Test-Interaction) developed by Callejas, Lupianez and Tudela (2004) was used. In Callejas’ task, a cost and benefit paradigm was combined with a flanker task and an alerting signal. The task was performed by a group of young Non-experienced drivers and a group of Experienced drivers. The pattern of results from Non-experienced drivers was different from that of Experienced drivers. For Non-experienced drivers there was a functional difference in the three attentional networks. These interactions were significant for the Non- Experienced drivers: a.) The interaction effect between the Orienting and Alerting networks: the presence of the sound enhances Orienting Effect, b.) The interaction effect between the Congruency and Orienting networks: a greater Congruency effect when the participant viewed a cue in the location opposite to that of the target. c.) The interaction between Alertness and Congruency: alerting produces an inhibitory effect on the Executive Function. However, for Experienced drivers, smoother patterns of interaction were found among the three attentional networks. Further research should be done firstly to measure the functioning of the attentional networks in other complex tasks, more similar to driving, secondly to clarify that the difference found is not only a function of age