1. The Maguire et al. study on taxi drivers used MRI scans (Magnetic Resonance Imaging).

 

(a) Explain what an MRI scan measured in this study.

[2]

 

(b) Outline one piece of evidence that suggests the brains of taxi drivers are different from the brains of non-taxi drivers.

[2]

 

2. (a) Describe the sample used in the study of taxi drivers’ brains by Maguire et al.

[2]

 

(b) Suggest one application of the findings from the study of taxi drivers’ brains by Maguire et al.

[2]

 

3 (a) Explain why Maguire et al. decided to study London taxi drivers in their study.

[2]

 

(b) Identify two criteria the researchers used to select the taxi drivers in this study.

[2]

 

 

4. Identify one control that was used in the Maguire et al. study of taxi drivers’ brains and explain why this control was important.

[4]

 

 

5 (a) In the Maguire et al. study of taxi drivers brains describe one method used to analyse the MRI scans.

[2]

 

(b) Describe one result obtained from this method.

[2]

 

 

6. Maguire et al. found that there was a positive correlation between hippocampal volume in the right posterior hippocampi and the amount of time spent as a taxi driver.

 

(a) Explain the term positive correlation.

[2]

 

(b) State one conclusion that can be drawn from this result.

[2]

 

 

7. (a) In their study what did Maguire et al. believe was an important function of the hippocampus?

[2]

 

(b) Briefly describe the location of the hippocampus.

[2]

 

 

8. (a) What was the aim of the Maguire et al. study of London taxi drivers?

 

[2]

(b) Outline one of the findings of this study.

[2]

 

 

9. (a) In the Maguire et al. study of London taxi drivers what is meant by the term “the Knowledge”.

[2]

 

(b) Why did Maguire et al. decide to study London taxi drivers in this study?

[2]

 

 

10. The study by Maguire et al investigated both the grey and white matter of the brain.

 

(a) What is the difference between grey and white matter?

[2]

 

(b) How did the researchers measure structure of the brain?

[2]

 

 

11. (a) Describe one of the findings of the study of taxi drivers brains carried out by Maguire et al.

[2]

 

(b) What do the results tell us about the nature nurture debate?

[2]

 

 

12 (a) Give one strength of the sample used in the study carried out by Maguire et al.

[2]

 

(b) Give one weakness the sample used in the study carried out by Maguire et al.

[2]