Curiosity Enhances Your Brain’s Memory

Mar 7, 2020

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Neuroscientists have found that following our curiosity has powerful effects on the brain. 

Matthias Gruber and Charan Ranganath, two neuroscientists at U.C. Davis, found that brain activity ramped up in regions that transmit the molecule dopamine, which regulates our pleasure and reward systems when we allow our curiosity to lead us. “This anticipation is really important,” says Matthias, “because the more curious a subject was, the more their brain engaged.” 

They also discovered that greater interest in a question would predict not only better memory for the answer but also better recall for other information such as a person’s face. 

Curious minds show increased activity in the hippocampus, which is involved in the creation of memories. In short, want to remember something or someone? Turn up your natural curiosity. 

If you’d like to follow your curiosity now, you can access more free resources and a behind-the-scenes video from us on this chapter at www.weand.me/rapport.