1. Discuss/Evaluate the use of techniques to study the brain in relation to behaviour.
Many different techniques are used to study the brain in terms of understanding human
behaviours such as memory and attraction. Two of these techniques that have been used are
MRI scans, in relation to Maguire’s study, and fMRI scans, referring to Fisher’s study.
MRI scans, known as Magnetic Resonance Imaging, give a detailed picture of internal
structures in the body. The water molecules which make up the body contain hydrogen
protons which tend to align in a magnetic field. These are aligned due to the electromagnetic
field produced by the radio frequency tranmitter of the MRI scanner. The protons absorb the
energy of the magnetic field and start spinning; they then reach back to their normal level
when the field is turned off. This process produces radio signals which are measured by the
scanner.
Maguire was one of the researchers who used MRI scans while investigating how
neuroplasticity occurs. He did so by conducting an experiment to see how the brains of
London taxi drivers differ due of the exceptional training needed to be certified. The study
was conducted with a sample of a variety of ages; 16 right-handed male London taxi drivers
who had successfully completed the "Knowledge" test, which included creating mental map
of London, and who had their license for at least 1.5 years and a control group of 50 right-
handed males who where not taxi drivers. The study consisted of MRI scans of each
participant which were compared with the ones from the control group. The results concluded
that the posterior hippocampi of taxi drivers were significantly larger compared to those of
the control group whereas the anterior hippocampi were significantly smaller. Additionally,
the volume of the right posterior hippocampi correlated with the amount of time spent as a
taxi driver. No other changes were seen in the brain other than these.
A strength of MRI scanning is that it is not an invasive technique, therefore causing
minimal harm to the participants of this study while producing high resolution imaging. On
the other hand, MRI machines are highly expensive and only show structures of the brain
instead of the movements in the brain. In this study, the MRI scans were insufficient to be
able to create a cause-effect relationship between the size of the anterior hippocampus and the
years of training performed as a taxi driver.
fMRI scans are also used when investigative human behaviours. They are known as
Functional magnetic resonance imaging, a series of MRI scans measuring brain function
through a computers combination of multiple images taken less than a second apart,
providing three dimensional pictures of the brain structures using magnetic fields and radio
Many different techniques are used to study the brain in terms of understanding human
behaviours such as memory and attraction. Two of these techniques that have been used are
MRI scans, in relation to Maguire’s study, and fMRI scans, referring to Fisher’s study.
MRI scans, known as Magnetic Resonance Imaging, give a detailed picture of internal
structures in the body. The water molecules which make up the body contain hydrogen
protons which tend to align in a magnetic field. These are aligned due to the electromagnetic
field produced by the radio frequency tranmitter of the MRI scanner. The protons absorb the
energy of the magnetic field and start spinning; they then reach back to their normal level
when the field is turned off. This process produces radio signals which are measured by the
scanner.
Maguire was one of the researchers who used MRI scans while investigating how
neuroplasticity occurs. He did so by conducting an experiment to see how the brains of
London taxi drivers differ due of the exceptional training needed to be certified. The study
was conducted with a sample of a variety of ages; 16 right-handed male London taxi drivers
who had successfully completed the "Knowledge" test, which included creating mental map
of London, and who had their license for at least 1.5 years and a control group of 50 right-
handed males who where not taxi drivers. The study consisted of MRI scans of each
participant which were compared with the ones from the control group. The results concluded
that the posterior hippocampi of taxi drivers were significantly larger compared to those of
the control group whereas the anterior hippocampi were significantly smaller. Additionally,
the volume of the right posterior hippocampi correlated with the amount of time spent as a
taxi driver. No other changes were seen in the brain other than these.
A strength of MRI scanning is that it is not an invasive technique, therefore causing
minimal harm to the participants of this study while producing high resolution imaging. On
the other hand, MRI machines are highly expensive and only show structures of the brain
instead of the movements in the brain. In this study, the MRI scans were insufficient to be
able to create a cause-effect relationship between the size of the anterior hippocampus and the
years of training performed as a taxi driver.
fMRI scans are also used when investigative human behaviours. They are known as
Functional magnetic resonance imaging, a series of MRI scans measuring brain function
through a computers combination of multiple images taken less than a second apart,
providing three dimensional pictures of the brain structures using magnetic fields and radio
