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It explains why many of us seek out new chances to learn, whether this be a new language or a study. This creates an internal drive to try and connect the dots to put the new information into our surroundings. Curiosity is the essence of finding something that we can’t fit directly into our surroundings. Psychologically, there are also several concepts at play. In this case, dopamine receptors are trading dopamine with synaptic vesicles, which allow the dopamine to be absorbed into the system.
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Not only that, but more action on the hippocampus occurred when experiencing curiosity, meaning there was more activity in the area memories are created.ĭopamine as interacting with neurotransmitters. By taking an action we’ve been told specifically not to take, we learn of the consequence - something which we don’t learn pre-button pushing most of the time.ĭespite this, there’s actually a lot more going on in our brains when we get curious, and guess what? The grand majority of this happens because of dopamine! In MRI studies, when participants were introduced to something interesting that made them curious, they received a burst in dopamine from the curiosity. Let’s face it: humans are incredibly curious, and mysterious pieces of our environment (like a big red button) are often causes for interest. However, there is also a lot of psychology involved in both responses, so let’s take a look at a deeper analysis of each. Well, like almost everything in life, we can chalk this up to a couple big factors: our intense curiosity and our desire for dopamine rushes (which actually end up being almost the same thing!). So why exactly do we feel the complete urge to do something as soon as we’re told we can’t? Things that you aren’t allowed to touch become almost magnetic.
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The most exclusive colleges are the ones more people try to get into. From schools to stores to jobs, there are almost always rules that end up completely shattered because people didn’t follow them.Īctivities that are completely undesirable become tempting as soon as you aren’t allowed to participate in them. It isn’t always a button, either: the “red button” is pretty much anything one character tells another not to do. Alright, I’ll only be a minute.”ĭialogue like this (or similar versions of it) is found pretty frequently in science fiction or fantasy. Now, I’m going to leave the room for just a second, then I’ll be back, okay? Just don’t touch the red button.
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I can’t tell you what’s going to happen if you do, because honestly, we really have no idea.
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