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Maguire et al. (2000)
Last updated 22 Mar 2021
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Navigation-related structural change in the hippocampi of taxi drivers.
Background information: According to Maguire, the role of the hippocampus is to facilitate spatial memory, in the form of navigation. From previous studies (pre-Maguire) it was impossible to know whether differences in brain anatomy are predetermined, or whether the brain is susceptible to plastic changes, in response to environmental stimulation – in this case driving a taxi.
Taxi drivers undergo extensive training, known as ‘The Knowledge’ and therefore make an ideal group for the study of spatial navigation.
Aim: To examine whether structural changes could be detected in the brain of people with extensive experience of spatial navigation.
Method: Structural MRI scans were obtained. 16 right-handed male London taxi drivers participated; all had been driving for more than 1.5 years. Scans of 50 healthy right-handed males who did not drive taxis were included for comparison. The mean age did not differ between the two groups.
Results: 1) Increased grey matter was found in the brains of taxi drivers compared with controls in two brain regions, the right and left hippocampi. The increased volume was found in the posterior (rear) hippocampus.
2)Changes with navigation experience – A correlation was found between the amount of time spent as a taxi driver and volume in the right posterior hippocampus.
Conclusion : The results provide evidence for structural differences between the hippocampi of London taxi drivers and control participants, therefore suggesting that extensive practice with spatial navigation affects the hippocampus.
Evaluation:
Could this particular arrangement of hippocampal grey matter predispose individuals to professional dependence on navigational skills? This notion was tested directly, by examining a correlation between hippocampi volume and the amount of time spent as a taxi driver. Right posterior hippocampal volume positively correlated with the amount of time spent as a taxi driver and therefore suggests that changes in hippocampal volume are acquired.
As such, the finding indicates the possibility of local plasticity in the structure of the healthy adult human brain, as a function of increased exposure to an environmental stimulus. The results suggest that a mental map of London is stored in the posterior hippocampus and is accommodated by an increase in tissue volume.
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Maguire (2000) carried out a study to demonstrate how cognitive processes may lead to neuroplasticity in the hippocampus. You can use this study for the following learning objectives:Discuss techniques for studying the brain and behavior.Discuss neuroplasticity.Discuss localization of function.The original study is available here.textProcedure and resultsThe aim of the study was to see whether the brains of London taxi...
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The Supreme Court judgment in Maguire – a brief analysis
- Market Insight 22 June 2023 22 June 2023
UK & Europe
People challenges
On 21 June 2023 the Supreme Court handed down its eagerly and long awaited judgment in R (Maguire) [2023] UKSC 20, unanimously dismissing the appeal challenging the Coroner’s determination at the conclusion of the inquest into Ms Maguire’s death that the evidence was not supportive of an assertion that the death may have arisen from a violation of the positive obligation under ECHR Article 2 to protect life.
This determination consequently limited the jury’s conclusions under section 5(1) of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (CJA), such that a standard conclusion limited to “how” the deceased came by their death would be returned. Mrs Muriel Maguire, Jackie’s mother brought a judicial review claim against the Coroner’s determination, which was dismissed by the High Court with the Court of Appeal dismissing the resulting appeal.
Prior to the Supreme Court’s dismissal of the appeal, questions arose as to whether, in their consideration of whether there was an arguable breach of the systems duty or operational duty by the care home or other healthcare providers, there would be a movement towards the application of Article 2 in healthcare case. The Supreme Court’s decision, as Morahan did, continues to curb the application of Article 2 in healthcare inquests.
By way of brief background, Jackie Maguire was a vulnerable adult who died on 22 February 2017. She had been living in a care home and was subject to a DoLS. The day prior to her death paramedics were called to the care home sought to transfer Jackie to hospital but she was uncooperative. Following that a GP advised that if Jackie was still refusing to be transferred to hospital that she should be monitored in the care home. A transfer to hospital took place on 22 February but Jackie passed away that day.
In considering the systems duty and whether there was an arguable breach by the care home or other healthcare providers so as to trigger the enhanced procedural obligation, it was emphasised that in the healthcare context (where the systems duty operates at a high level) it will only be rare cases that it will be found to have been breached. The same approach applied in care homes and the systems in place at the care home were capable of being operated in a way which would ensure that a proper standard of care was provided to residents, even though there may have been individual lapses in putting them into effect. In relation to other healthcare providers, again whilst criticisms could be made of individuals these related to individual lapses as opposed to a failure of the systems duty. The Supreme Court found that Coroner was entitled to find that there was no arguable breach of the systems duty.
In considering the operational duty the Supreme Court highlighted that when an individual is placed in a care or nursing home or hospital the state does not assume responsibility for all aspects of their physical health; therefore the focus is on specific risks to health, which in Jackie’s case the authorities were aware of. The circumstances of each case must be considered and the operational duty applies in a graduated way depending on the perception of the risk based on reasonable assessment and taking reasonable steps accordingly. None of the healthcare professionals involved in her care was on notice that Jackie's life was in danger and the Supreme Court concluded that there was no arguable breach of the operational duty by any of the healthcare providers.
This is a shoring up of the position following Morahan and provides further clarity on the application of Article 2 in healthcare related inquests.
Clyde & Co's healthcare group is recognised for its extensive industry knowledge, offering a range of legal services covering public and private sectors as well as inquests, advocacy, professional regulation, product liability and pharmaceuticals / life sciences.
If you would like to discuss the issues raised in the Maguire case, please contact Claire Petts or Judith Duffin .
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IMAGES
COMMENTS
In maguire's case it is a correlational study, where driving experience is corrleated with the grey matter volume. Procedure: MRI scans are completed between the experiment group and the controlled group. (All male, all taxi drivers have at least 1 year of experience after "the knowledge" test)
Maguire et al. (2000) Navigation-related structural change in the hippocampi of taxi drivers. Background information: According to Maguire, the role of the hippocampus is to facilitate spatial memory, in the form of navigation. From previous studies (pre-Maguire) it was impossible to know whether differences in brain anatomy are predetermined ...
Outline the sample used in Maguire et al's study. - 16 healthy, right handed male licensed taxi drivers. - Mean age 44 (range 32-62 years) - All participants licensed London taxi drivers for more than one and a half years and had completed the knowledge course. - Control group of 16 non-taxi drivers, matched on age range of taxi drivers.
the study was designed to investigate. 1. navigational experience and the role played by the hippocampus in humans. 2. whether the healthy human brain can undergo "plastic" (structural) changes in response to extensive navigational experience. Participants.
Key Study: A comparison of hippocampal volumes in bus and taxi drivers in London (Maguire, 2006) This quasi-experiment compared MRI scans of experienced London taxi drivers to London bus drivers. MRI scans allow researchers to see the shape and structure of the brain. The taxi drivers had all been through "the training", which involves ...
A quick(ish) recap of the aims, procedures, findings and conclusions of Maguire et al's (2000) study into the brains of taxi drivers. Turns out the brain is ...
Evaluation of the case of HM (Milner 1958, Corkin 1997) Strengths. This case study employed both qualitative and quantitative methods, generating both reliable and rich data; HM's case highlighted important new insight into the brain and its link to memory function, specifically the role of the hippocampus in memory formation; Limitations
Maguire: Navigation-related structural change in the hippocampi of taxi drivers Background: the hippocampus helps spatial memory, in the form of navigation.From previous studies, it was impossible to know whether differences in brain anatomy are predetermined (nature), or whether the brain is susceptible to plastic changes, in response to environmental stimulation (nurture).
Maguire et al. (2000) Maguire et al. (2000) Maguire hypothesised that full licensed taxi drivers in London would have a different hippocampi structure in their brains compared to "normal" people. London taxi drivers do a two-year training course where they end up being able to find their way around the city without a map. (The Knowledge)
Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like What was the aim of this study?, Describe the sample used in this study?, Describe the procedure of this experiment? and more.
Maguire et al performed a snapshot study. One of the problems with this is that we can't tell if the taxi drivers' use of the right hippocampus in route-finding is something that develops over time, or is always the same. For example, maybe experienced taxi drivers use their right hippocampi in a different way to normal people, because of all ...
Maguire (2000) Maguire (2000) carried out a study to demonstrate how cognitive processes may lead to neuroplasticity in the hippocampus. You can use this study for the following learning objectives:Discuss techniques for studying the brain and behavior.Discuss neuroplasticity.Discuss localization of function.The original study is available here ...
Procedure: The participants ... Two Key Studies using Post-Mortem Analysis: The case of HM (Corkin 1997) & The Case of Tan (Broca 1861) MRI Brain Scan; Two Key Studies using MRI: Maguire (2000) & Luby et al. (2013) FMRI & PET Scans; Two Key Studies using fMRI & PET Scans: Fisher et al. (2003) & Raine et al. (1997)
Detailed information on Maguire study maguire, gadian, johnsrude, good, ashburner, frackowiak, frith, structural change in the hippocampi of taxi drivers. ... 16 for the pixel counting) were matched for health, handedness, sex, mean age and age range. 5. Outline of the procedure/study • The scans of the control group were selected from the ...
PSYCHOLOGY IS A SCIENCE Objective methods of measurement were used, following established and verifiable procedures. Experimental control techniques applied. ... Maguire, E - Detailed information on Maguire study. Psychology 86% (7) 1. Sperry. Psychology 100% (2) More from: MS. MS. Maya Seabright Year 12 999+ impact 999+ University of South ...
COMPARISON - Differences. - Maguire et al. studied the human brain, Blakemore + Cooper investigated brains of cats. - Maguire used a snapshot study method, Blakemore + Cooper carried out longitudinal study. - Blakemore + Cooper studied visual neurons, Maguire investigated hippocampus. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms ...
Maguire et al. (2000) Structural Changes In The Brain ... Abstract This study aimed to examine structural changes in the brains of taxi drivers. 16 right-handed taxi drivers (mean age 44) were given MRI scans. The scans were compared to 50 non-taxi ... Procedure All the participants were given an MRI scan. The scans were then compared to look ...
Procedure: 24 volunteers, 21 female and 3 male. They are all non-jugglers and were split into the jugglers and the control group. ... The study was experimental, thus helping to argue for a cause-and-effect relationship. There was a control group that didn't juggle that served as a control group. Cons: Small sample size, imbalanced gender ratio ...
On 21 June 2023 the Supreme Court handed down its eagerly and long awaited judgment in R (Maguire) [2023] UKSC 20, unanimously dismissing the appeal challenging the Coroner's determination at the conclusion of the inquest into Ms Maguire's death that the evidence was not supportive of an assertion that the death may have arisen from a violation of the positive obligation under ECHR Article ...
It allows variables to be studied that could not otherwise be easily controlled. In the case of Maguire et al the IV is whether the participant was a taxi driver or not, it would be difficult to deliberately manipulate this over an extended period of time, therefore taking advantage of taxi drivers existing experience was the best way to study this.
On 21 June 2023 the Supreme Court handed down its eagerly and long awaited judgment in R (Maguire) [2023] UKSC 20, unanimously dismissing the appeal…
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Maguire procedure Procedure: -The 16 right-handed taxi drivers were compared with the MRI scans of males who did not drive taxis. -In order to take part in the study, the participants had to have completed the "Knowledge" test and have their license for at least 1.5 years.