The study explored how individuals react when they are seated next to one another in a moving car. The researchers were interested in understanding if there is an association between being exposed to other people's bodies while driving can trigger arousal and emotional response, such as desire, attraction, confusion, embarrassment, or anxiety. The participants consisted of 100 heterosexual males aged between 18 and 45 years old. Each participant was randomly assigned to sit in either the front seat or backseat of a moving vehicle with another male or female partner who sat in the opposite position. During the experiment, the vehicle traveled for approximately five minutes at a constant speed. To ensure that the results would be accurate, all vehicles were equipped with cameras and audio recordings during the ride. After the drive ended, each participant was asked to answer a series of questions related to their experience in the car, including their feelings towards the driver, passenger, and whether they had experienced any sexual fantasies during the ride.

The findings showed that most participants reported feeling more aroused when sitting beside someone of the same sex than when sitting across from them.

Those who sat in the front seat with a woman felt increased levels of excitement compared to those who sat in the back seat. This phenomenon has been referred to as the "convertible effect," where individuals feel more vulnerable and exposed in open-top cars.

Some participants also reported experiencing fear and anxiety due to this exposure.

The study revealed that gender did not play a significant role in the level of arousal but rather the physical contact between participants was the main factor. Therefore, the presence of intimate touching between drivers and passengers contributed to higher levels of arousal.

The researchers concluded that exposure to convertible occupants during motion can evoke fantasies of erotic exposure and vulnerability among both men and women. Although there is no direct causation between being exposed to others' bodies while driving and sexual attraction, it does suggest that certain factors such as closeness or physical contact may trigger these emotions. The study suggests that psychosexual development could be affected by the environment and context, especially for individuals with fetishes or fantasies related to cars and automobiles.