PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a concentration degree estimation apparatus, a concentration degree estimation method, a driving assistance apparatus, and a driving assistance method which can more accurately determine whether or not a subject is concentrating on driving.SOLUTION: A brain wave measuring device 12 and a frequency analysis part 14 analyze a quantity of θ waves based on either the magnitude of the power of θ waves in brain waves of a subject or the magnitude of the ratio of the power of the θ waves to the power of the brain waves of the subject, an electrocardiographic sensor 16 and a heart rate calculation part 18 analyze a quantity of heartbeats based on either a high heart rate or a short heartbeat interval in the heartbeat of the subject, and a concentration determination part 20 estimates a concentration degree of the subject such that the higher both quantities of θ waves and heartbeats, the higher a concentration degree of the subject. Consequently, even in a subject that Fmθ waves are not significantly detected in, whether or not the subject concentrates on driving can be accurately determined based on the θ waves and heartbeats while discriminating a state in which the subject feels drowsy from a state in which a quantity of θ waves is high.COPYRIGHT: (C)2014,JPO&INPIT【課題】対象者が集中しているか否かをより精度良く判定することができる集中度推定装置、集中度推定方法、運転支援装置及び運転支援方法を提供する。【解決手段】脳波計測装置12及び周波数解析部14は、対象者の脳波中のθ波のパワーの大きさ及び対象者の脳波のパワーに対するθ波のパワーの比の大きさのいずれかに基づくθ波量を解析し、心電センサ16及び心拍数算出部18は、対象者の心拍の心拍数の多さ及び心拍間隔の短さのいずれかに基づく心拍量を解析し、集中度判定部20は、θ波量と心拍量とが共に大きくなるほど、対象者の集中度をより高く推定する。これにより、Fmθ波が顕著に検出されない対象者の場合であっても、θ波量の高い場合から対象者が眠気を感じている場合を区別しつつ、θ波と心拍とに基づいて、対象者が集中しているか否かを精度良く判定することができる。【選択図】図1
