Maguire et al. (2006)

Question 1

Introduction?

Answer 1

• used MRI scans
• suggested that there may be a capacity for plastic change in the structure of the hippocampus in healthy adult humans

Question 2

Methods?

Answer 2

• used 18 London taxi drivers and 17 London bus drivers
• observed grey matter volume differences between the taxi and bus drivers

Question 3

Results?

Answer 3

• Greater grey matter volume was found in the taxi drivers when compared with the bus drivers in the posterior hippocampus
• No difference in grey matter volume in the caudate nucleus
• Grey matter volume in the hippocampus increased in taxi drivers the longer they had been driving

Question 4

What does this suggest?

Answer 4

that spatial knowledge, and not stress, driving, or self-motion, is associated with the pattern of hippocampal grey matter volume in taxi drivers

Question 5

Discussion?

Answer 5

results from the present study continue to permit the view that learning is a primary function of the hippocampus in humans such that this brain region might adapt structurally to accommodate its elaboration