The Knowledge
My newest works are inspired by the 'plastic' brain and in particular a study by Prof Eleanor Maguire, in which London taxi driver's brains are scanned before and after their training.
Taxi driver's in London are required to memorise the complex layout of central London's streets and thousands of places of interest, as well as the quickest routes around the capital - known as 'the Knowledge'. MRI scans reveal that the structure of a London taxi driver's brain changes during the process of learning and visualising the routes.
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."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16086233
http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/news/media-office/press-releases/2011/wtvm053658.htm