neuroplasticity

Question 1

neuroplasticity

Answer 1

Neuroplasticity refers to the brains ability to alter its own structure following changes within the body or external environment

• minute changes - creation of new dendrites after learning; as well as
• big changes - stroke kills a section of the brain - another section takes on its function

Question 2

brain plasticity

Answer 2

brain’s ability to rearrange the connections between its neurons, changes that occur as a result of learning or experience

• connections become denser, more neurons and more connections

Question 3

dendritic branching

Answer 3

process of neurons connecting with other neurons, dendrites of neurons grow in number and connect with other

Question 4

neural pruning

Answer 4

process of weakening and removing synapses that are no longer needed when under-stimulated as a way for the brain to improve the efficiency and functioning of neural networks.

Question 5

Maguire aim

Answer 5

to investigate whether brains of London taxi drivers would be somehow different as a result of their exceptional knowledge of the city

Question 6

Maguire method

Answer 6

quasi-experiment - based on pre-existing intergroup difference

Question 7

neurons

Answer 7

specialized cells that transmit chemical and electrical signals in the brain, consisting three parts: the body (soma), dendrites and axon

Question 8

Maguire participants

Answer 8

• 16 right-handed male taxi drivers

- 50 right handed males (non-taxi drivers) *taken from database - pre-existing

Question 9

Maguire procedure

Answer 9

A sample of 16 healthy right-handed male cab drivers who had been driving for more than 1.5 years had an MRL scan, which was compared to the 50 right-handed male drivers who did not drive a taxi and were around the same average age as the sample group. (50 right-handed drivers were the control group)

Question 10

Maguire results

Answer 10

The posterior (rear) was significantly larger in the Hippocampus for the taxi drivers, while the anterior (front) of the Hippocampus was larger in the control group. 
There was a positive correlation between the years of experience driving a taxi and the size of the posterior Hippocampus

Question 11

Maguire conclusion

Answer 11

The Hippocampus is the region of the brain associated with memory, and the posterior (rear) of the Hippocampus is believed to be related to spatial memory and navigation.
Experience cab drivers developed a ‘menta map’ of London, involving the many landmarks and street-names. This causes an increase in the posterior(rear) of the Hippocampus

Question 12

Hippocampus

Answer 12

Region of the brain associated with memory and learning