Curiosity is a drive state for information

London: Philosopher Thomas Hobbes called curiosity “the lust of the mind” while former US first lady Eleanor Roosevelt said it was "the most useful gift". Now, two researchers from the University of Rochester propose that it is time to organise and focus on curiosity's function, evolution, mechanism and development.

Over time, studies have tried to differentiate curiosity by saying it is entirely intrinsically motivated (compared to information-seeking and risk-seeking). For their study, the authors used a working definition of curiosity "as a drive state for information" which can be observed in organisms as simple as nematode worms. One question still up for debate is whether curiosity always carries benefits - whether immediately or in the future.

While increasing curiosity reduces uncertainty and makes for better choices on what to explore, the animals' brains are also wired to reward us for learning new information, which can put us at different risks.

The authors also note that the study of curiosity overlaps with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other attentional disorders.