Imagine you’re navigating a three-dimensional maze. Believe it or not, in this situation, both men and women think. However, women think with the distinctly human right prefrontal cortex, while men use the rat-brain navigational instincts of their left hippocampus (according to fMRI studies). Basically, what this means is that while men efficiently snuffle around the corridors, rationally and analytically memorizing each branching path, women look at the map. And if the map is unclear, they ask directions (not to reinforce a pop stereotype or anything).
Before a London cabbie is licensed to drive a black cab, he (or, very infrequently, she) must pass a test known as The Knowledge. The test requires knowing almost 25,000 streets as well as the points of interest along these streets including squares, clubs, hospitals, hotels, theaters, embassies, government and public buildings, railway stations, police stations, courts, important places of worship, cemeteries, crematoria, parks and open spaces, sports and leisure centers, places of learning, restaurants, and historic buildings. Average preparation for The Knowledge takes thirty-four months and passing the test itself usually requires upward of twelve attempts.
Interestingly, London’s taxi drivers (who are expert at navigating a three-dimensional maze) have enlarged hippocampi compared with the general population. The longer the cabbie’s been driving, the bigger the hippocampus.