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Brain changes seen in cabbies who take 'The Knowledge' | Brain changes seen in cabbies who take 'The Knowledge' |
(about 7 hours later) | |
The structure of a London taxi driver's brain changes during the gruelling process of learning the quickest way around the capital, scans reveal. | The structure of a London taxi driver's brain changes during the gruelling process of learning the quickest way around the capital, scans reveal. |
Dozens of trainee drivers had MRI scans before and after they acquired "The Knowledge", memorising hundreds of journeys and street names. | Dozens of trainee drivers had MRI scans before and after they acquired "The Knowledge", memorising hundreds of journeys and street names. |
The University College London team, writing in Current Biology, found brain parts linked to memory grew bigger. | |
They said it proved the brain could adapt to new tasks, even in adulthood. | They said it proved the brain could adapt to new tasks, even in adulthood. |
'Plastic' brains | 'Plastic' brains |
Earlier studies of the brain of the cabbie had already noted the increase in "grey matter" in the hippocampus, an area found at the base of the brain. | Earlier studies of the brain of the cabbie had already noted the increase in "grey matter" in the hippocampus, an area found at the base of the brain. |
However this research tried to work out if the change had happened during the intensive learning period prior to starting work, or on the job itself. | However this research tried to work out if the change had happened during the intensive learning period prior to starting work, or on the job itself. |
They scanned a total of 79 trainees, just before they started to learn the "All-London" Knowledge, which can take between two and four years to complete. | They scanned a total of 79 trainees, just before they started to learn the "All-London" Knowledge, which can take between two and four years to complete. |
Would-be taxi drivers have to learn 320 routes within a six mile radius of Charing Cross, which covers a mind-boggling 25,000 streets and 20,000 landmarks and places of interest. | Would-be taxi drivers have to learn 320 routes within a six mile radius of Charing Cross, which covers a mind-boggling 25,000 streets and 20,000 landmarks and places of interest. |
Throughout the process, any changes to their brains were mapped by regular MRI scans. | Throughout the process, any changes to their brains were mapped by regular MRI scans. |
Compared with similar scans from non-taxi drivers, those who had attempted the Knowledge had increased the size of the posterior hippocampus - the rear section of the hippocampus which lies at the front of the brain. | Compared with similar scans from non-taxi drivers, those who had attempted the Knowledge had increased the size of the posterior hippocampus - the rear section of the hippocampus which lies at the front of the brain. |
As would be expected, they were better at memory tasks involving London landmarks than the non-cabbies, but this advantage appeared to come at a price, as the non-cabbies outperformed them in other memory tasks, such as recalling complex visual information. | As would be expected, they were better at memory tasks involving London landmarks than the non-cabbies, but this advantage appeared to come at a price, as the non-cabbies outperformed them in other memory tasks, such as recalling complex visual information. |
Prof Eleanor Maguire, who led the study, said: "The human brain remains 'plastic', even in adult life, allowing it to adapt when we learn new tasks. | Prof Eleanor Maguire, who led the study, said: "The human brain remains 'plastic', even in adult life, allowing it to adapt when we learn new tasks. |
"By following the trainee taxi drivers over time as they acquired - or failed to acquire - the Knowledge, a uniquely challenging spatial memory task, we have seen directly and within individuals how the structure of the hippocampus can change with external stimulation. | "By following the trainee taxi drivers over time as they acquired - or failed to acquire - the Knowledge, a uniquely challenging spatial memory task, we have seen directly and within individuals how the structure of the hippocampus can change with external stimulation. |
"This offers encouragement for adults who want to learn new skills later in life." | "This offers encouragement for adults who want to learn new skills later in life." |
The reasons why the brain was able to adapt remain unclear, although the hippocampus is one of the few areas of the brain in which new cells can grow. | The reasons why the brain was able to adapt remain unclear, although the hippocampus is one of the few areas of the brain in which new cells can grow. |
Dr John Williams, head of neuroscience and mental health at the Wellcome Trust, which helped fund the research, said: "Only a few studies have shown direct evidence for plasticity in the adult human brain related to vital functions such as memory, so this new work makes an important contribution." | Dr John Williams, head of neuroscience and mental health at the Wellcome Trust, which helped fund the research, said: "Only a few studies have shown direct evidence for plasticity in the adult human brain related to vital functions such as memory, so this new work makes an important contribution." |
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