Maguire (2000)

• Aim


  Study the difference of brain between taxi and non-taxi drivers. (Taxi drivers should have exceptional knowledge and memory of the city). Study how cognitive processes leads to neuroplasticity.
• Procedure


  MRI scans to study differences in brain structure. 1) voxel-based morphometry measured density of grey matter in the brain. 2) Pixel counting calculates area of the brain.
• Participants


  16 right-handed London taxi drivers and 50 right-handed male non-taxi drivers. (Taxi drivers took part in a "Knowledge" and had their driving license for at least 1.5 years)
• Research method


  Quasi-experiment, correlational study (no manipulated IV), single blind study (researcher did not know whose brain they were looking at).
• Results


  Pixel counting revealed a larger posterior hippocampus for taxi drivers. Voxel-based morphometry revealed that longer years of driving showed denser grey matter in the brain. Hence, the hippocampus can change in response to environmental demands.
• Strengths


  Controlled variables (right-handed, males), MRI scans are ethically sound (consent was also given).
• Limitations


  Limited sampling bias (low ecological validity), no cause-effect established.