Our prediction was that the hippocampus would be the most likely brain region to show changes. Given the propensity of lower mammalian/avian hippocampi to undergo structural change in response to behavior requiring spatial memory ( 2, 3), the present study addressed whether morphological changes could be detected in the healthy human brain associated with extensive experience of spatial navigation. Furthermore, although lesion work ( 6, 7) and functional neuroimaging work ( 8) confirm the involvement of the human hippocampus in spatial memory and navigation, there is still debate about its precise role. From existing studies, it is impossible to know whether differences in brain anatomy are predetermined or whether the brain is susceptible to plastic change in response to environmental stimulation. In the healthy human, structural brain differences between distinct groups of subjects (for example, males and females, ref. In some species, hippocampal volumes enlarge specifically during seasons when demand for spatial ability is greatest ( 2, 3). Increased hippocampal volume relative to brain and body size has been reported in small mammals and birds who engage in behavior requiring spatial memory, such as food storing ( 2). One important role of the hippocampus is to facilitate spatial memory in the form of navigation ( 1).
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