Maguire

Created by: Evie :)
Created on: 10-12-22 11:30

What is the hippocampus?

A brain structure embedded in the temporal lobe
It has a role in learning and memory

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What was the aim of the study?

To investigate whether behaviour can affect the brain
Maguire wanted to see whether changes in the HC size could be detected in people with high spatial navigational skills- to see if the brain changes in response to experience

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What was the method?

Quasi experiment
Lab conditions
IV- Taxi drivers/ non taxi drivers
DV- Grey matter volume in HC

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experimental group sample?

Experimental group
16, right handed male london taxi drivers
All had been driving more than 1.5 years
Mean age- 44 years

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Control group sample?

The scans of this group were selected from the structural MRI scan database, where the taxi drivers were scanned
50 healthy, right handed males who didn't drive taxis were used to compare with the taxi drivers

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Procedure?

Data was collected using MRI which collects data about the structure or anatomy of brain
The scanner works by exposing participants to a strong magnetic field and radio waves to produce detailed pictures of the brain

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How was the data measured?

Voxel-based morphemtry- Used to measure the density of grey matter in the brain
Pixel Counting- Counting pixels in the images of HC provided by scans

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Results?

No differences in overall volume of grey matter in HC
Only 2 brain regions with increased grey matter in taxi drivers- left and right HC

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.....

In the taxi drivers there was an increase in grey matter in the posteriour hippocampus in both brain hemispheres
In the control group the increase was in the anterior hippocampus in both hemispheres

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What correlations were examined?

Time spent as a taxi driver was positively correlated with the volume of posterior RH- mental map of London is stored here
It was negatively correlated with the volume of the anterior RH and LH

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Conclusions?

The brain is not a fixed organ and can change in response to experience- Brain plasticicty

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Card 4

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experimental group sample?

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Card 5

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Control group sample?

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