A study of London cab drivers has found that the hippocampus – the part of the brain associated with navigation – is larger in people who have memorized detailed mental maps of a city. And the more years of experience a cab driver has, the more growth in grey matter his brain experiences.

This is an important breakthrough not just for cab drivers, but for the rest of us; our brains are not just end products of our genetics and our childhood experiences, but an aspect of us we can develop and improve – with lasting effects – even in adulthood. There are a quite a few activities that have also shown to lead to brain growth, including playing music, face to face interactions, and even juggling!

These studies also have big implications for people with brain damage or diseases such as Parkinson’s, who would greatly benefit from rehabilitating brain exercises that increase grey matter in damaged areas.

Read more at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/677048.stm.