On Friday, April 10th, 2026, students from 杏吧原创 University鈥檚 Advanced Cognitive Engineering (ACE) Lab presented their latest driving鈥憆elated research at the annual 杏吧原创 Cognitive Science Student Conference, held in Richcraft Hall.
The conference鈥檚 mission remains central to the Cognitive Science program at 杏吧原创: to provide a supportive, inclusive venue where students across all areas of cognitive science can present original work, exchange ideas, and receive constructive feedback from peers and faculty.
This year, ACE Lab undergraduate and graduate researchers contributed across lightning talks and poster sessions, highlighting the lab鈥檚 multidisciplinary approach to understanding human behaviour in complex driving environments.
ACE Lab researchers and faculty at the 2026 杏吧原创 Cognitive Science Student Conference. From left to right: Dr. Kathleen Van Benthem, Chlo茅 Lachance鈥慡oulard, Tal Friedman, and Dr. Chris Herdman.
Lightning Talk Presentations
- Chlo茅 Lachance-Soulard, Second鈥慪ear Master鈥檚 Student (Cognitive Science)
Alert, Aware, or Overwhelmed? How Stress Shapes Human Responses to Takeover Requests
Chlo茅 presented research on how audio and visual alert salience levels influence driver stress during takeover requests. Her work shows how alert intensity can shape cognitive load and response quality during transitions from automation to manual control. - Tal Friedman, Second鈥慪ear Master鈥檚 Student (Cognitive Science)
From Steering to Screening: Predicting Mature Driver Health Status from Driving Data
Tal presented research using Machine Learning models to predict mature driver health status from naturalistic driving data. His work demonstrates how everyday driving behaviour can serve as a non鈥慽ntrusive indicator of emerging health changes in older adults.
Tal Friedman presenting his research on predicting mature driver health status from driving data.
Poster Presentations
- Lexy St. Pierre, Second鈥慪ear Master鈥檚 Student (Human-Computer Interaction)
Understanding Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) Usage in Mature Drivers: A Technology Readiness Index Perspective
Lexy St. Pierre examined how technology readiness in mature drivers influences their knowledge and use of advanced driver assistance systems. Her findings show that individuals with higher technology readiness demonstrate better ADAS understanding and greater system use, indicating that improved education and training may support safer, more effective engagement.
Lexy St. Pierre presenting her research on technology readiness and ADAS engagement in mature drivers.
- Tamara Mendizabal, Fourth鈥慪ear Undergraduate Honours Student (Cognitive Science)
Alert Salience and Driver Fatigue as Predictors of Takeover Performance in Semi鈥慉utonomous Vehicles
Tamara Mendizabal investigated how internal driver fatigue and external alert salience predict takeover performance in semi鈥慳utonomous vehicles. Her work highlights how passive monitoring and reduced situational awareness in automated driving can impair successful takeovers, underscoring key risks as drivers shift into more passive roles.
Tamara presenting her working on driver fatigue as a predictor of takeover perfomance in semi autonomous vehicles.
- Sadia Naureen, Fourth鈥慪ear Undergraduate Honours Student (Cognitive Science)
Staying Alert in Autopilot: The Effects of Trust in Automation and Attentional Capacity on Situation Awareness in Novice and Senior Drivers
Sadia explored how trust in automation and attentional capacity affect situation awareness when automation is active.
A Strong Showing for ACE Lab Research
The ACE Lab鈥檚 contributions highlighted the lab鈥檚 commitment to improving road safety through human鈥慶entred research. From automation trust to stress responses, from mature driver readiness to cognitive predictors of takeover performance, the work presented reflects the lab鈥檚 ongoing leadership in understanding how humans interact with increasingly automated vehicles.
The conference once again provided an invaluable platform for students to share their work, refine their ideas, and connect with the broader cognitive science community.