While many automakers believe that self-driving cars will be the next breakthrough in automotive technology, Nissan is taking this concept in a new direction that retains the pleasure of manual driving by making the driver still feel involved. The Japanese automaker is currently developing innovative "brain to vehicle technology" which will be showcased at this month's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. By wearing a head device, the technology monitors your brain waves to predict when you're about to steer, accelerate, or brake.

It then applies autonomous driving assists accordingly and can react between 0.2 seconds and 0.5 seconds quicker than a human driver. According to Nissan, the technology could be fitted to autonomous cars within the next five to ten years. "When most people think about autonomous driving, they have a very impersonal vision of the future, where humans relinquish control to the machines," said Nissan executive vice president Daniele Schillaci. "Yet brain-to-vehicle technology does the opposite, by using signals from their own brain to make the drive even more exciting and enjoyable." The technology also allows the car to monitor the driver's mood and adjust its driving style or settings.

Furthermore, augmented reality technology can adjust what the driver sees to "create a more relaxing environment." "The potential applications of the technology are incredible," added Lucian Gheorghe, senior innovation researcher at the Nissan Research Centre in Japan. "This research will be a catalyst for more Nissan innovation inside our vehicles in the years to come." Nissan will be demonstrating the technology using a driving simulator at CES which kicks off January 9 in Las Vegas.