Biological 1: Maguire Flashcards
What was the aim?
To investigate whether changes in density of grey matter could be detected in London taxi drivers compared to ‘normal’ adults to test the functions of the hippocampus in spatial memory.
What is the background?
- HM was a hidden case whereby he was ‘cured’ for his extreme epilepsy by a surgeon who sucked out his hippocampus
- his short term memory was ruined and he could not remember anything past around 3 minutes after it happening
- hippocampus located in the medial temporal lobe in the brain
What were the IVs and DVs?
IVs= QUASI
•whether taxi or non taxi
DV=
•the measure of grey matter in volume of anterior, centre and posterior of hippocampus
Who were the PPs?
How were they selected?
- 16 RH males
- aged between 32 and 62, avg 44
- must have passed the knowledge minimum 18 months ago
- 50 non taxi drivers
- male, 33-62, RH
- selected at same place had a MRI scan
How was the volume measured?
Had an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan which creates 3D image; searching for grey matter= neural cell bodies:
•VBM= measures the grey matter
•Pixel counting= human counts the number of pixels of grey matter in a slice
What were the results?
ANTERIOR:
•non taxi drivers higher in right+left
=used for inputting memories
BODY:
• no real difference between either
POSTERIOR:
•taxi drivers higher in right + left (significantly in right)
=used for recalling memories
What are some evaluations?
✔️single blind= removes researcher bias
✔️matched pairs= removes PP variables
✔️concurrent validity as VBM + PC
✖️did not investigate jobs of control
✖️did not know correlation between before and after a taxi driver
✖️small sample= unreliable as easily distorted by individual differences
What are some possible improvements?
- Investigate jobs of control group
- Add females, LH, older/younger, other cities than London, other cab drivers (mini cab), under 18 months of knowledge test
- Measure before+after a taxi driver+every year thereafter, could use EEG hat during navigation
