“Intellectual curiosity is a superpower.”
Anthony Pomliano
Is there such a thing as a “curiosity gene?”
Grant Currin in his article Why are Humans So Curious? states that, although there may not be a “single curiosity gene” there is a genetic component to curiosity.
Vanessa Van Edwards asks in the Science of People , “Why are some people more naturally curious than others?” In studies published by Neuron magazine it appears that our brain chemistry changes when we exhibit curiosity. In fact, we seem to retain information better that we are curious about.
As our curiosity is satisfied there is a release of dopamine which gives us a naturally good feeling. As this pertains to aging I wonder whether living a more curious life might guard against depression, which sadly effects many elderly people.
According to Van Edwards, “The dopamine appears to play a role in enhancing the connections between cells that are involved in learning.”
Is it possible to teach an old dog new tricks just by remaining curious?
In The Science of Curiosity Judson Brewer identifies two different aspects of curiosity to consider:
The first being “Interest” where the hunger for knowledge results in a sense of satisfaction as new information is learned. The second, has more to do with “Deprivation” where there appears to be a missing piece of information that can cause a restlessness until it is located.
I have found myself wearing both of these shoes since I have an intense need-to-know. Do either of these resonate with you?
No comments:
Post a Comment