studies

Question 1

study 1

Answer 1

Maguire 2000. navigation-related structural change in the hippocampi of taxi drivers in London.
pps:experimental group: 16 right-handed males. mean time as taxi drivers is 14.3 years (1.5-42)
control group: 50 health right-handed males who did not drive taxis. mean age for the two groups is the same.
procedure: A structural MRI. 24 sagittal slices(anterior of hippocampus, body of hippocampus, posterior of hippocampus.)
results: no difference in overall volume. the volume of taxi driver’s posterior hippocampi were significantly larger.

Question 2

hippocampus

Answer 2

located in the medial temporal lobe. one important role of it is to facilitate spatial memory in the form of navigation.

Question 3

study 2

Answer 3

Maguire 2006. to investigate the effect of self-motion, driving experience, and stress by comparing with bus drivers.

pps: 18 taxi, 17 bus drivers.
procedure: MRI scans. to assess stress and anxiety levels 5 stress questionnaires were used.
results: taxi drivers had greater grey matter volume in the post hipp; had less ´´ ´´ in their anterior hipp; were signif. better on the london landmark recognition memory test and london proximity judgement test; scored poorer on word recognition; did not differ on stress levels

Question 4

grey matter

Answer 4

Grey matter contains most of the brain’s neuronal cell bodies. The grey matter includes regions of the brain involved in muscle control, and sensory perception such as seeing and hearing, memory, emotions, speech, decision making, and self-control. … These cells are responsible for the movement of muscles.

Question 5

study 3

Answer 5

Draganski et al. (2004). structural changes in the brain in response to juggling.

pps: a self selected sample of 24 volunteers. ages 20 and 24 with no prior experience of juggling. 21 femalesand 3 males.
procedure: 3 months learning a classic juggling routine with 3 balls. control group never practiced. 3 MRI. one before exprmnt, one after three months, one after 6 months.
results: VBM is used. jugglers showed a great grey matter in the mid-temporal area(visual are) in both hemispheres.

Question 6

study 4

Answer 6

Draganski et al. (2006).

pps: 38 medical students(21 female, 17 male). mean age 24
procedure: 3 MRI (3 months before the exam; first or second day after the exam; 3 months after the exam)
results: medical students’ amount of grey matter increased in posterior parietal cortex. grey matter decrease was found in the occipital parietal lobe.