Why?

Asking Why?

Investigating curiosity means delving into psychology, neuroscience and a diversity of other disciplines. As neuroscientist Joseph LeDoux and his team demonstrated, being surprised calls the brain into action. The sympathetic nervous system boosts the heart rate, causing sweating and other symptoms. In the brain, a “fast track” from thalamus to amygdala mediates the emotional reaction to a situation, whereas a “slow track” via the cerebral cortex mediates conscious evaluation. Psychologist Daniel Berlyne found that curiosity runs along two axes. One goes from “perceptual” – in response to novel, surprising stimuli – to “epistemic,” in search of knowledge. The other goes from “specific” – seeking a particular answer – to “diversive,” avoiding boredom. Epistemic curiosity drives quests in science, philosophy and other areas.

Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci exemplified relentless curiosity across many fields. In modern times, Nobel prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman showed a similarly diverse, voracious curiosity. Curiosity appears essential for early cognitive development, but it may fade with age. Historian Giorgio Vasari extolled ...