Health Check The psychology of curiosity
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Sep 10, 2025 Tim Peake, the first British astronaut to walk in space, shares captivating tales from his time on the International Space Station, including a humorous incident involving frozen urine. Matthias Gruber, a psychology expert, dives into the neuroscience behind curiosity, explaining its vital role in motivation and learning. The discussion evolves around how curiosity shifts from childhood wonder to adult exploration, alongside unique insights about space smells and the significance of celebrations in zero gravity, sparking thoughts about nurturing curiosity in our lives.
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Space Station Light Mix-Up
- Tim Peake mistook freezing urine crystals for approaching spacecraft lights and briefly feared first contact.
- The lights turned out to be crystallised urine reflecting sunlight, deflating the moment's excitement.
Curiosity Activates Reward Circuits
- Matthias Gruber links curiosity to the brain's dopaminergic reward circuit that drives wanting.
- The brain anticipates information as a reward, making curiosity a motivational state for specific information.
Use Trivia To Measure Curiosity
- Measure state curiosity with trivia that people rate as low or high curiosity before scanning the brain.
- Use willingness-to-pay or subjective curiosity ratings to identify questions that trigger stronger curiosity.