SWINDON, U.K. (August 24, 2026) – Castrol and UK neuroscience firm Brainbox published a study using brain, eye, heart, and skin sensors across five driving scenarios to examine the science behind the thrill of driving.

The research revealed that driving thrill stems from a state of controlled immersion and deep focus rather than outright speed. Test subjects reached peak thrill metrics during single-seat karting at modest speeds, whereas high-speed passenger rides scored the lowest for thrill because they induced anxiety instead.

True thrill occurs when a driver experiences a optimal balance of visceral stimulation, mental engagement, and emotional control, allowing them to enter a neurophysiological “flow” state. In this state, drivers display focus-related theta brain waves, very low blink rates (around 2.5 per minute), and steady eye tracking focused on the apex of turns.

In contrast, when drivers lose the perception of control—such as when being driven by a professional driver—brain activity shifts from calm focus to stress-inducing beta waves, heart rate variability drops sharply, and eye movements become erratic, signaling cognitive overload and fear rather than excitement.