Maguire Et Al Flashcards
Research question
Does the structure of your brain change in response to environmental stimulus?
Aim
The aim was to find out whether changes in the brain could be detected in those with extensive navigation experience.
Sample
32 male, right-handed participants.
16 taxi drivers licensed for 18+ months
16 non-taxi drivers
Mean age 44 years all healthy mentally, physically and physiologically.
Method
Quasi experiment. Independent design
IV
Brain of a London taxi driver or non taxi driver
DV
Structure and volume of hippocampus
Procedure
Stage 1 - MRI scans of 50 healthy, right-handed, non taxi drivers brains were analysed by an expert. Analysis was VBM.
Stage 2 - MRI scans of 16 taxi drivers brains and 16 matched by VBM analysis were compared.
Control - the expert was unaware whether the MRI scan was of a taxi or non taxi driver’s brain.
Sample method
Self-selecting
Findings
Increased volume of grey matter in left and right hippocampi in taxi drivers.
Taxi drivers had greater volume in the posterior hippocampus.
Non-taxi drivers had greater volume in the anterior hippocampus.
This indicates a redistribution of grey matter to fit purpose.
Correlation analysis - right posterior increased as the time as a taxi driver increased.
Conclusions
The structure of the brain changes in response to environmental stimulus.
The mental map of London City is stored in the posteria hippocampi in taxi drivers.
Normal activity (every day career) can induce changes in the brain’s structure which is useful to know for rehabilitation after brain injury.
Evaluations/changes
Sample - widen (countries, areas), left-handed people, different drivers (bus, train, pilots), females, different navigating careers (scout leaders), different species
Test skill etc not just brain scans
Usefulness
Evidence of neural plasticity
Allocates functions to parts of the brain
Knowledge for medical professionals (helps treat brain damage/injury)
Taxi employers could benefit from knowing who’s best to employ
