Passenger comfort visualized assessment in high-speed railway tunnels using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) brain imaging technology: A full-scale test study

Abstract

This study innovatively employs functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) technology to investigate passengers’ brain responses to various external stimuli during high-speed train operations, assessing their impact on passenger comfort. Three stimuli are examined: passing through tunnels, sonic booms at tunnel exits, and two trains meeting within the tunnel. The analysis of environmental variables, including cabin noise, cabin-to-external pressure, and cabin-to-body acceleration, reveals that changes in auditory and pressure levels during the tunnel experience led to an 87% increase in oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO) levels in the temporal lobe (TL). This reflects a brief discomfort that subsides as passengers adapt, with HbO levels nearly returning to pre-tunnel levels upon exit. Among the stimuli, the sonic boom triggered the most significant neural response, with HbO fluctuations increased by 175%. In contrast, the impact of train meetings was minor, yielding an average HbO increase of only 14.21%. Connectivity analysis further shows significant enhancements in brain functional connectivity during tunnel entrance and sonic boom scenarios, with increases of 52% and 80%, respectively. Our findings contribute to passenger comfort assessment by establishing objective neurophysiological measures that quantify previously subjective experiences. The application of fNIRS in this dynamic environment creates new possibilities for evidence-based comfort optimization in railway design.

Keywords

high-speed trains / railway tunnel / passenger comfort / functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)

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