London Streets on the Brain Infographic
Chapter 1

The shapeshifting brain

Chapter 2

The architecture of memory

Chapter 3

When senses collide

Chapter 4

The multilingual super-engine

Ch 1 · The shapeshifting brain
007skaty

007skaty The physical changes in the brains of London taxi drivers.

1h ago

007skaty
The streets of London on the brain

007skaty To master The Knowledge, drivers memorize 25,000 streets and 20,000 landmarks, significantly growing their posterior hippocampus.

1h ago

007skaty
Quiz

Which specific part of the brain is found to be larger in experienced London taxi drivers?

1h ago

007skaty
Quiz

What is the rigorous spatial test that London taxi drivers must pass to get their license?

1h ago

007skaty
Fun Fact

Brain growth: The human brain continues to grow new brain cells in the hippocampus throughout adulthood, defying the old belief that we are born with all our neurons.

1h ago

007skaty

007skaty People can live normal lives with only half a brain.

1h ago

007skaty
Living with only half a brain

007skaty Hemispherectomy surgery treats severe epilepsy by removing or disconnecting one brain hemisphere

1h ago

007skaty
Quiz

What medical condition is a hemispherectomy most commonly used to treat?

1h ago

007skaty
Quiz

Why are children under six years old much better at recovering from hemispherectomies than adults?

1h ago

007skaty
Glossary
neuroplasticity (noun)
The capacity of the nervous system to develop new pathways and reorganize existing connections in response to learning or experience. London black cab drivers showed significant growth in the hippocampus after completing intensive spatial navigation training.

1h ago

007skaty

007skaty Blind individuals navigate their surroundings using human echolocation.

1h ago

007skaty
Seeing the world with sound
BETA

007skaty Tap to bounce sound waves to discover how the brain maps the world without sight.

1h ago

007skaty
Quiz

What animal is famous for using the same echolocation mechanism that humans can learn?

1h ago

007skaty
Quiz

Which brain region do blind echolocators repurpose to process the echoes of their tongue clicks?

1h ago

007skaty
Gossip

Would you rather navigate a city with a paper map or GPS?

1h ago

007skaty

007skaty Phantom Limb Sensation

Your brain still tries to reach a missing hand, A simple mirror helps it understand.

1h ago

007skaty
Quiz

Where is the brain's sensory map of the human body located?

1h ago

007skaty
Quiz

Why does touching an amputee's face sometimes make them feel their missing hand?

1h ago