Question

In which of the following would you expect to observe an enlarged hippocampal formation?

Select one:
a. a London cab driver who has 30 years of experience
b. a pigeon that wanders from roost to roost
c. a bird that only eats from your back yard feeder
d. a person who has just started training as a London cab driver
e. a chickadee tested in the early summer,

Answer 1

The hippocampal formation can enlarge in response to prolonged and demanding cognitive tasks, such as spatial navigation involved in driving a taxi in a complex city like London.

Step-by-step explanation:

An enlarged hippocampal formation would be expected in option a. a London cab driver who has 30 years of experience.

Multiple studies have shown that the hippocampus, a structure in the brain related to learning and memory, undergoes structural changes in response to environmental factors, including spatial navigation and extensive learning experiences.

For example, a study conducted on London cab drivers found that those with more years of experience and extensive training had larger hippocampal volumes compared to non-taxi drivers.

These findings suggest that the hippocampal formation can enlarge in response to prolonged and demanding cognitive tasks, such as spatial navigation involved in driving a taxi in a complex city like London.