A computer-implemented method for operating an autonomous vehicle , the method comprising: determining a first physiological response of a first occupant of an autonomous vehicle based on first sensor data including physiological data corresponding to the first occupant collected by a sensor array , the first sensor data comprising at least one of a body position, a body orientation, a head position, a head orientation, a gaze direction, a gaze depth, a skin conductivity reading, or a neural activity measurement, and the first physiological response comprising at least one of behavioral changes associated with the first occupant , an increase in cognitive load, or an increase in emotional load; determining that the first physiological response is related to a first event outside of the autonomous vehicle ; modifying at least one operating characteristic of the autonomous vehicle based on second sensor data that corresponds to the first event, the second sensor data corresponding to objects, persons and situations outside the vehicle captured by one or more sensors facing outward from the vehicle ; determining a second physiological response of the first occupant of the autonomous vehicle based on third sensor data including physiological data corresponding to the first occupant collected by the sensor array , the third sensor data comprising at least one of a body position, a body orientation, a head position, a head orientation, a gaze direction, a gaze depth, a skin conductivity reading, or a neural activity measurement, and the second physiological response comprising at least one of behavioral changes associated with the first occupant , an increase in cognitive load, or an increase in emotional load; determining that the second physiological response is caused by a second event located inside the autonomous vehicle ; and determining that navigation of the autonomous vehicle should not be modified based on the second event. determining a first physiological response of a first occupant of an autonomous vehicle based on first sensor data including physiological data corresponding to the first occupant collected by a sensor array , the first sensor data comprising at least one of a body position, a body orientation, a head position, a head orientation, a gaze direction, a gaze depth, a skin conductivity reading, or a neural activity measurement, and the first physiological response comprising at least one of behavioral changes associated with the first occupant , an increase in cognitive load, or an increase in emotional load; determining that the first physiological response is related to a first event outside of the autonomous vehicle ; modifying at least one operating characteristic of the autonomous vehicle based on second sensor data that corresponds to the first event, the second sensor data corresponding to objects, persons and situations outside the vehicle captured by one or more sensors facing outward from the vehicle ; determining a second physiological response of the first occupant of the autonomous vehicle based on third sensor data including physiological data corresponding to the first occupant collected by the sensor array , the third sensor data comprising at least one of a body position, a body orientation, a head position, a head orientation, a gaze direction, a gaze depth, a skin conductivity reading, or a neural activity measurement, and the second physiological response comprising at least one of behavioral changes associated with the first occupant , an increase in cognitive load, or an increase in emotional load; determining that the second physiological response is caused by a second event located inside the autonomous vehicle ; and determining that navigation of the autonomous vehicle should not be modified based on the second event. <EOS>