Nissan Hotwiring Racing Drivers' Brains To Make Them Faster

Drivers used the Sonal device on their heads throughout Season 9, after which a final scan was conducted to see what changes had been realized. Brain speed and clarity had improved, and it was decided that using the device over an extended period could have a profound impact on overall results and performances.

We suspect it's only a matter of time before the technology is studied in other forms of motorsport and possibly other forms of competition, too; boxers and baseball batters could surely benefit from quicker reactions and clearer thinking.

But what about the everyday person on the street? How is Nissan going to use this tech to improve their lives? Other research from Nissan andsome from Mercedeshas explored how the brain could potentiallycommunicate directly with a car fasterthan a driver's hands can realize inputs, but that was with a view to improved autonomous vehicles.

The research clearly shows that people's abilities to learn and retain knowledge can be significantly improved, and Nissan is "exploring how this technology could continue to evolve and be integrated into Nissan dealerships."

We can imagine sales representatives learning a car's features and specs more quickly, and we can imagine workshop technicians absorbing a new service bulletin with greater ease, making it possible for combustion experts to educate themselves on repairing EVs like theAriyain a shorter period.

But more importantly than those potential applications, Nissan is figuring out "how the brain-computer interface-based training could be designed to assist customers improving their driving skills quicker."

This tech could be used before a customer embarks on an advanced driving course, or it could be provided before a first-timer is instructed on operating an EV or any other vehicle they are unfamiliar with. Perhaps someday, this could even become a form of self-administered therapy to reduce fatigue on road trips. The potential applications are endless, and we hope to see them realized soon.