Nissan today launched an innovative programme focused on brain function for its Formula E drivers Sebastien Buemi and Oliver Rowland.
The programme, called Nissan Brain to Performance, uses advanced brain imaging and analysis to determine the anatomical specifics of high-performance, professional drivers.
The programme aims to develop bespoke, optimised training to enhance the brain functions and anatomy related to driving and racing.
“At Nissan, we dare to do what others don’t. With this groundbreaking programme, we aim to understand our race drivers’ brain functions like never before and push the boundaries of on-track performance in Formula E,” said Tommaso Volpe, Nissan global motorsports director.
“What if, through advanced brain function analysis and training, we could help make our drivers perform better? Every tenth of a second counts in Formula E, so we’re excited to see how our cutting-edge Nissan research team can enhance Seb and Oli’s already high-performing brain functionality.”
The programme will be coordinated by Dr. Lucian Gheorghe, a leader in the field of brain analysis and training, and a driving force behind Nissan’s forward-looking research on how to better build the connection between people and Nissan vehicles.
The immediate priority of the Nissan Brain to Performance programme is to enhance the performance of Nissan’s Formula E racers.
Gheorghe said: “Our brains are incredibly powerful. Without us realising it, they perform a multitude of critical functions every second we drive our cars. Our highly trained and experienced Nissan Formula E drivers perform these functions under intense pressure and at great speed.
“Our new Nissan Brain to Performance programme seeks to understand what it is about their brains’ electrical activity that enables them to do what they do.
“Then, if we can, we’d like to help them further improve their performance through bespoke brain training. In the future, could our cutting-edge research help improve the driving skills of the average driver, and inform the development of our road-going EVs? We hope so.”
The first stage of the new programme will involve detailed analysis and testing of the Formula E racers’ brain functions, compared against a control group of ‘average’, non-racing drivers.
All drivers will perform a range of tasks on state-of-the-art driving simulators while their brain activity is monitored and recorded.
Based on the results, a bespoke driver training programme involving electrical brain stimulation will be developed with the aim of improving driver performance.
