The brain and behaviour SAQ

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

Uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to detect brain damage, differences in brain size.
The scanner produces high-resolution images of brain structures (e.g. hippocampus, amygdala, cortex)

to study the structure of the brain, rather than activity.
when the independent variable is a naturally occurring difference (e.g. profession, experience, or disorder).

MRI allows researchers to identify structural differences in brain regions and correlate these differences with behaviour.
Experience can shape the brain (neuroplasticity)

A brain structure associated with:
memory
spatial memory
navigation

Memory for the layout of environments and where things are located.

The theory that specific brain areas are linked to specific functionsehaviours.

Maguire et al (2000)

To investigate the effect of spatial navigation on size of hippocampus

Quasi correlational experiment
single blind (the researcher analyzing scans did not know whether they belonged to a taxi driver or a control).
Participants: 16 right-handed male London taxi drivers and 50 right handed male non-taxi drivers (control group)
Methods:
Taxi Drivers had completed the "Knowledge" test and held their licenses for at least 1.5 years.
placed in MRI and compared
Voxel-Based Morphometry (VBM) measured the density of grey matter in the brain.
Pixel Counting calculated the hippocampal area in MRI images.

Taxi drivers had larger posterior hippocampi and smaller anterior hippocampi compared to controls.
Correlation: The size of the posterior hippocampus increased with the number of years driving a taxi
This suggests that the hippocampus adapts to environment
posterior hippocampus involved in using previously learned spatial information
the anterior hippocampus linked to learning new spatial layouts.

Proves that MRI is an effective way to compare brain structures