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Summary Maguire et al. (2000) - navigation-related structural changes in the hippocampi of taxi drivers
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A summary of contemporary key study - Maguire et al. (2000)
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Maguire et al (2000): Navigation-related structural changes in thehippocampi of taxi drivers
Background
The hippocampus is a brain structure that is involved with memory, spatial
awareness and navigation.
For memory, the hippocampus is linked to the conversion of information from short-
term memory to more permanent memory.
The hippocampus also connects memories together which helps give them their
meaning.
Hippocampus and Navigation
Neuroscientists know that the hippocampus is involved in spatial memory, but it also
seems particularly important in navigation.
When you need the navigation skill more, the brain structure wants to be more
developed. It has been shown that the hippocampus can increase in size when it is
needed.
Studies on rats have shown that the neurons in the hippocampus have spatial firing
cells called place cells, which fire when the animal finds itself in a particular location.
This discovery of place cells suggests that the hippocampus might act as a cognitive
map, a neural representation of the layout of the environment.
Brain Plasticity
Plasticity refers to the ability to change the size and shape of something.
Eriksson (1998) has shown that the human hippocampus has the ability to generate
new cells throughout life, this is called neurogenesis. It has also been found in rats
that ‘enriching’ their environment leads to an enlarging hippocampus (this has been
supported using cats and monkeys).
Aim
To demonstrate that the hippocampus is the region of the brain associated with
spatial memory and navigation.
Method and Design
This study was a quasi experiment using independent measures.
Quasi experiment – the IV was naturally occurring, in this case it is because the
participants either were taxi drivers or were not taxi drivers before they took part in
the study. Maguire did not make them taxi drivers therefore did not manipulate the
IV.
Independent measures – the researchers were comparing brains of London taxi
drivers with controls to see any differences.
In addition, a correlational analysis was carried out to see if the hippocampal
changes increased with time as a taxi driver and were therefore likely to be
environmentally determined.
Participants
Taxi Drivers
16 right-handed male London taxi drivers – aged 32-62.
All had been licensed taxi drivers for at least 1½ years.
The average time spend ‘being on The Knowledge’ was 2 years.
All participants had healthy general medical, neurological and physiological profiles.
Non-Taxi Drivers – Control Group
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