Maguire (Biological Area)

Question 1

Maguire Background

Answer 1

Maguire said that the role of the hippocampus is to facilitate spatial memory, in the form of navigations. From previous studies, it was impossible to know whether differences in brain anatomy are predetermined or whether the brain is susceptible to plastic changes in response to environmental stimulation

Taxi drivers in London undergo extensive training known as ‘The Knowledge’ snd makes an ideal group for study of spacial navigation

Question 2

Maguire aim

Answer 2

to examine whether structural changes could be detected in the brain of people with extensive experience of spatial navigation

Question 3

Maguire method

Answer 3

Structural MRI scans were obtained. 16 right-handed male London taxi drivers participated, they all had been driving for more than 1.5 years. Scans of 50 healthy right-handed males who did not drive taxis were included for comparison. The mean age did not differ between the two groups.

Question 4

Maguire results

Answer 4

1) increased grey matter was found in the brains of taxi drivers compared with controls in two brain regions, the right and left hippocampi. The increase volume was found in the posterior hippocampus

2) changes with navigation experience - a correlation was found between the amount of time spent as a taxi driver and volume in the right posterior hippocampus