Biological: Maguire

Question 1

Background

Answer 1

> hippocampus part of limbic system
hippocampus key in establishing new memories
previous research not identified if brain structure changes due to environment

Question 2

Aim

Answer 2

to show hippocampus in human brain is the structure associated with spatial memory and navigation

Question 3

method

Answer 3

quasi-lab

Question 4

design

Answer 4

independent measures, matched pairs

Question 5

IV

Answer 5

London black cab driver or not

Question 6

DV

Answer 6

hippocampal volume

Question 7

sample

Answer 7

> 16 London black cab drivers: healthy, right-handed, male
50 control group (16)- VBM matched on: health, handedness, mean age, age range

Question 8

procedure

Answer 8

> control group scans selected from MRI database
MRI scans analysed with VBM and pixel counting
VBM- normalises scans to template control size difference, identifies grey matter differences
pixel- compares regions of hippocampus, images analysed by experienced technician who’s unaware of which group pp is from

Question 9

Results

Answer 9

VBM- taxi drivers increased volume in right and left posterior hippocampus
pixel- no significant difference in volume, taxi drivers increased volume in posterior hippocampus
correlations- significant positive correlation between time as driver and vol of right posterior hippocampus, significant negative between time as driver and volume of anterior hippocampus

Question 10

conclusions

Answer 10

> structural differences between hippocampi of London black cab drivers and non-black cab drivers
dependence on navigational skills is associated with redistribution of hippocampus grey matter
the brain may data in response to prolonged environmental stimuli