The more curious we are about a topic, the easier it is to learn information about that topic. New research publishing online October in the Cell Press journal Neuron provided insight into what happens in our brains when curiosity is piqued.
The findings could help scientists find ways to enhance overall learning and memory in both healthy individuals and those with neurological conditions.
Curiosity makes our mind active instead of passive. A curious people always ask questions and find answers in their minds. Their minds remain active all the time. As the mind is like a muscle which becomes stronger through continual exercise, the mental exercise caused by curiosity makes your mind stronger and stronger. It makes our mind observant of new ideas.
When we are curious about something, our mind expects and anticipates new idea related to it. When the idea come they will soon be recognized. It opens up a new worlds and possibilities. By being curious, we will be able to see new worlds and possibilities which are normally not visible. It takes a curious mind to discover them. When we get the answer we get fun and satisfaction, by doing this we develop our brain gradually.
Several changes occur while discovering the answer. Brain activity ramped up in two regions in the midbrain, the ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens. These regions transmit dopamine, which helps to regulate the sensation of pleasure and reward. In addition, the researchers found that curious mind showed increased activity in the hippocampus, which is involved in the creation of memories. The brain's reward system seemed to prepare the hippocampus for learning.
The brain circuit that rely on dopamine tend to decline in gunction as people get older. In the classroom or workplace, learning what might be considered boring material could be enhanced if teachers or managers are able to knock the power of curiosity about that thing, they will be naturally motivated to learn.