London Taxi Drivers and Bus Drivers:

A Structural MRI and Neuropsychological Analysis

Eleanor A. Maguire, Katherine Woollett, and Hugo J. Spiers

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Mark Aragones

3/7/13

Reasoning For This Experiment

Earlier studies have shown that the volume

of the hippocampus vary according to the needs of spatial memory.

The purpose of the experiment was to

study the effects of self motion, driving experience, and stress on hippocampal grey matter volume.

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An Introduction to the Hippocampus

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The Participants
London Taxi Drivers
2-4 years The Knowledge training

London Bus Drivers

6 weeks Bus driver training 2-4 years history of prior driving history

Both groups shared similar characteristics

in age, experience, ages left school, handedness, and matrix reasoning. 3/7/13

Tests Performed
A Neuropsychological Test Battery used to

identify

Cognitive Functions Memory Functions Affective Functions

An MRI exam was used to obtain images of

the brain.

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Differences in Hippocampal Volume

Taxi drivers had a greater grey matter

volume than bus drivers in the right and left mid-posterior hippocampus.

Taxi drivers had less grey matter volume

that bus drivers in the very anterior heads of the right and left hippocampus.

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Neuropsychological Tests
Only three of nine neuropsychological tests

provided significant results.

London landmark recognition memory test London landmark proximity judgements Rey-Osterrieth complex figure (delayed

recall)

Five stress/anxiety measures showed no

significant differences between the two groups.

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Neuropsychological Testing Results

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The Effects of Driving Experience

Varying grey matter volume according to

driving experience is only found in taxi drivers.

Increased grey matter in the right posterior

Increased driving experience:

hippocampus

Decreased grey matter in anterior hippocampi

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Conclusion
London taxi drivers have a great ability to

learn and use for navigation the complex spatial representation of a large city, though have diminished ability in learning new information.

Also, taxi drivers have greater grey matter

volume in the posterior hippocampus, which may have caused the decrease in volume in other parts of the hippocampus.
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Driving experience tended to further cause