Interest in Complex Novelty

How Curiosity Enhances Hippocampus-Dependent Memory: The Prediction, Appraisal, Curiosity, and Exploration (PACE) Framework

“…That is, ‘curious people appear to be curious because they are more likely to appraise their ability to understand as high’ ([53], see p. 108). Consistent with this finding, a series of experiments has shown that participants with high coping potential show higher curiosity/interest in complex novel products and inventions [55], suggesting that appraisal leads to curiosity only if the prediction errors seem manageable.Does the curiosity component, which triggers information seeking and exploration, potentially depend on individual differences in trait curiosity as well? Here, it might be relevant to consider that individual differences in the more general personality trait ‘openness to experience’ – which encompasses curiosity as a critical subcomponent – has been linked to dopaminergic functions 91, 92.…”

“…That is, 'curious people appear to be curious because they are more likely to appraise their ability to understand as high' ( [53], see p. 108). Consistent with this finding, a series of experiments has shown that participants with high coping potential show higher curiosity/interest in complex novel products and inventions [55], suggesting that appraisal leads to curiosity only if the prediction errors seem manageable. Does the curiosity component, which triggers information seeking and exploration, potentially depend on individual differences in trait curiosity as well?…”

“…Our framework proposes that such appraisal is supported by the lateral PFC. The importance of appraisal processes has been highlighted by behavioral studies suggesting that curiosity depends on the appraisal of one's ability to resolve the challenges raised by the prediction error [53][54][55]. More specifically, the appraisal is needed to determine whether the current state of uncertainty reflects a potential threat and, if not, whether one has the skills, expertise, and resources needed to resolve the uncertainty [54,55].…”

Shared striatal activity in decisions to satisfy curiosity and hunger at the risk of electric shocks

“…curiosity-related dopaminergic processes). In fact, some behavioural studies have highlighted the importance of appraisal processes suggesting that curiosity relies on the appraisal of one's ability and resources to resolve the challenges raised by the recognition of an information gap [71][72][73] . It is worth adding that theories of cognitive control also postulate that anterior cingulate cortex-mediated conflict signals stimulate the lateral prefrontal cortex to direct actions to resolve the conflict 74,75 .…”

The Temporal Dynamics of Surprise

“…An important precondition for exploration, however, is that people estimate that they have the skills, knowledge, and resources to deal with the event (i.e., coping potential, Silvia, ). This means that people will only engage in exploratory behavior when they anticipate they are able to make sense of what they will encounter (e.g., for related perspectives on familiarity‐novelty preference, see Noordewier & Van Dijk, ; Oishi, Miao, Koo, Kisling, & Ratliff, ; Van Horen & Pieters, ). Moreover, people can actively approach situations with unpredictable elements for the sake of mind activation (or optimal levels of arousal, e.g., Berlyne, ), for instance, when bored (Bench & Lench, ) or when they experience extreme levels of structure (Rutjens, Van Harreveld, & Cunningham, ).…”