Maguire Flashcards
What general question does this research context raise?
Does the structure of your brain change in response to environmental demand?
What previous research influenced this study?
Previous research suggesting the role of the hippocampus is to facilitate spatial memory (navigation).
What was the primary aim of the research?
The aim was to find out whether changes in the brain could be detected in those with extensive navigation experience.
What specific question did the researchers intend to answer?
To find out whether the hippocampi in London taxi drivers will be structurally different from the brain of non-taxi drivers.
What type of experiment was conducted?
Quasi (naturally occurring IV).
What was the independent variable (IV)?
London taxi driver (brain) or non-London taxi driver (brain).
What was the dependent variable (DV)?
Structure and volume of hippocampi.
How many groups of participants were there?
Two groups of participants.
Describe Group 1.
16 right-handed, male taxi drivers, average age 44, all licensed more than 18 months, average time taxi driver 14.3 years.
Describe Group 2.
16 right-handed male, age-matched, non-taxi drivers.
What was the purpose of Stage 1 of the experiment?
To establish a comparison database of ‘average hippocampi’.
Who were the participants in Stage 1?
50 healthy, right-handed male, non-taxi drivers, aged 33-61.
How were the MRI scans analyzed in Stage 1?
By Voxel based morphometry (VBM).
Who were the participants in Stage 2?
16 taxi drivers and 16 matched controls.
What was done with the MRI scans in Stage 2?
MRI scans of brains were analyzed by VBM and compared to the database from stage one.
What control measure was used in the analysis?
The expert conducting the analysis did not know whether the MRI scan was a taxi driver’s brain or not.
What was found regarding the volume of grey matter in the hippocampi of taxi drivers?
Increased volume of grey matter in both right and left hippocampus in taxi drivers’ brains.
What did the correlation analysis reveal?
The volume in the right posterior hippocampus increased as the length of time as a taxi driver increased.
What difference was observed between taxi drivers and non-taxi drivers regarding the posterior and anterior hippocampus?
Taxi drivers had greater volume in the posterior hippocampus, but non-taxi drivers had greater volume in the anterior hippocampus.
What did the difference in hippocampal volume indicate?
A redistribution of the grey matter in the hippocampus.
What general conclusion was drawn about brain structure?
The structure of the brain changes in response to environmental demand.
Where is the mental map of London stored in taxi drivers?
In the posterior hippocampus.
What can induce changes in the posterior hippocampus?
Normal activity.
What was the significance of the differing hippocampal volumes between taxi and non-taxi drivers?
It indicated a redistribution of grey matter in the hippocampus.
How did participants become involved in the study?
Participants applied to be included in the study.
What type of consent was obtained from participants?
Fully informed consent was gained.
What were the general health profiles of the participants?
All had healthy general medical, neurological, and psychiatric profiles.
