Maguire Et Al Flashcards
What was the background of Maguire et al.’s study?
Previous research suggested the hippocampus plays a key role in spatial memory and navigation. Maguire wanted to investigate whether extensive spatial training (e.g., London taxi drivers’ “The Knowledge”) leads to structural brain changes.
What is the role of the hippocampus in memory?
The hippocampus is responsible for spatial memory, navigation, and memory consolidation, particularly long-term declarative memories.
Why did Maguire choose London taxi drivers for the study?
London taxi drivers undergo intensive training known as “The Knowledge,” requiring them to memorize over 25,000 streets and thousands of landmarks, making them ideal for studying spatial memory and brain plasticity.
What was the main research question in Maguire et al.’s study?
Do London taxi drivers have structural differences in the hippocampus compared to non-taxi drivers?
What did Maguire et al. predict (hypothesis)?
Taxi drivers would have larger hippocampi, particularly in the posterior region, due to their extensive navigation experience.
How many participants were included in the study?
16 right-handed male London taxi drivers and 50 right-handed male non-taxi drivers as controls.
What were the selection criteria for taxi drivers?
They had to be licensed London taxi drivers, male, right-handed, with a minimum of 1.5 years of experience.
Why were control participants included, and how were they selected?
To compare brain differences; they were matched in terms of age, gender, and handedness but had no taxi-driving experience.
What type of research design was used in Maguire et al.’s study?
Quasi-experimental design because participants were naturally grouped into taxi drivers and controls (not randomly assigned).
What brain imaging technique did Maguire et al. use?
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans to examine structural differences in the hippocampus.
What is voxel-based morphometry (VBM), and why was it used?
VBM is an advanced neuroimaging technique that measures gray matter density across the brain. It was used to identify structural differences in the hippocampus.
What is pixel counting, and how was it used in the study?
A manual technique measuring hippocampal volume in a subset of participants to validate VBM results.
What were the dependent and independent variables in the study?
Independent variable: Taxi driver or non-taxi driver (naturally occurring).
Dependent variable: Hippocampal volume (measured via MRI).
How was the correlation between hippocampal volume and experience measured?u
Researchers examined the relationship between the number of years spent as a taxi driver and hippocampal size.
What did Maguire et al. find about the posterior hippocampus in taxi drivers?
The posterior hippocampus was significantly larger in taxi drivers compared to controls.
What did Maguire et al. find about the anterior hippocampus in taxi drivers?
The anterior hippocampus was smaller in taxi drivers than in controls.
What relationship was found between taxi-driving experience and hippocampal structure?
There was a positive correlation between years of experience as a taxi driver and posterior hippocampal size.
Was there a difference in overall brain volume between taxi drivers and controls?
No, total brain volume was similar, suggesting differences were specific to the hippocampus.
How do these results support neuroplasticity?
They show that the brain adapts to environmental demands, with the posterior hippocampus growing in response to prolonged spatial navigation experience.
Did the study establish causation?
No, it was correlational, meaning it could not determine whether taxi-driving caused hippocampal enlargement or if people with larger hippocampi were more likely to become taxi drivers.
What did Maguire et al. conclude about the hippocampus?
The posterior hippocampus is associated with spatial memory and navigation skills, supporting the idea that the brain changes in response to experience.
How does this study relate to professional training?
It suggests that professions requiring spatial navigation (e.g., pilots, couriers) may induce hippocampal changes over time.
How might these findings be relevant to Alzheimer’s research?
Since Alzheimer’s affects the hippocampus, understanding how spatial memory changes the brain may help develop early detection methods.
What does this study suggest about lifelong learning?
It supports the idea that the brain remains adaptable (plastic) throughout adulthood, meaning new learning experiences can reshape brain structure.
How does Maguire et al.’s study have high ecological validity?
The study investigates real-world spatial navigation skills in professional London taxi drivers, making the findings applicable to everyday life and real professions.
Why is the use of MRI scans a strength of the study?
MRI scans provide objective, high-resolution data, ensuring accurate measurement of hippocampal volume without relying on self-reports or subjective assessments.
Why does the study have good reliability?
The study used standardized methods (MRI, VBM, pixel counting), making it replicable and ensuring consistent hippocampal volume measurements across participants.
Why is the study’s sample a limitation?
The study only included 16 male, right-handed taxi drivers, limiting generalizability to females, left-handed individuals, or those from different cultures.
Why is causation a problem in this study?
The study was correlational, meaning it is unclear if taxi driving caused hippocampal changes or if people with larger hippocampi were more likely to become taxi drivers.
How could the study design be improved to establish causality?
A longitudinal study could scan participants before and after taxi training to track hippocampal changes over time and determine if learning causes structural brain differences.
