Biology subjects

Eschmann, K. C. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Eschmann, K. C. J..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2023

Curiosity as an amplifier of reward-related feedback processing

Successful learning depends on various factors such as depth of processing, motivation, or curiosity about information. A strong drive to learn something or the expectation of receiving a reward can be crucial to enhance learning. However, the influence of curiosity on the processing of new information and its similarity with reward processing is not well understood. This study examined whether states of curiosity influence specific event-related-potentials (ERPs) associated with reward processing and whether these ERPs are related with later memory benefits. In an initial screening phase, participants indicated their curiosity and confidence in prior knowledge about answers to various trivia questions. In a subsequent study phase, we targeted different time windows related to reward processing during the presentation of trivia answers containing the Reward-Positivity (RewP; 250 - 350 ms), the P3 (250 - 500 ms), and the Late-Positive-Potential (LPP; 600 - 1000 ms). In a following surprise memory test, we found that participants recalled more high- than low-curiosity answers. The RewP, P3 and LPP showed greater positive mean amplitudes for high compared to low curiosity, reflecting increased reward processing. In addition, we found that the RewP and the P3 showed more positive mean amplitudes for later recalled compared to later forgotten answers, but curiosity did not modulate this encoding-related results. These findings support the view that the satisfaction of curiosity resembles reward processing, indicated by event-related-potentials.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2023

Intrinsic functional connections determine how curiosity and prediction errors enhance memory

Individuals differ in the way they seek information, acquire knowledge, and form memories. Neural finger-prints of intrinsic functional connectivity distinguish between individuals and predict inter-individual differences in task performance. Both curiosity - the desire to acquire new information - and information prediction errors (IPEs) - the mismatch between information and previous expectations - enhance memory but differ considerably between individuals. The present study assessed whether inter-individual differences in functional connectivity measured using resting-state fMRI determine the extent to which individuals benefit from memory-enhancing effects of curiosity and IPEs. We found a double dissociation between individual differences in mesolimbic functional connectivity, which accounted for curiosity-driven but not IPE-related memory enhancements, and individual differences in cingulo-hippocampal functional connectivity, which predicted IPE-driven but not curiosity-related memory enhancements. These novel findings on how inter-individual differences in dissociable intrinsic functional networks determine memory enhancements stress the need to account for these differences in theoretical frameworks of curiosity and memory.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2022

Curiosity and mesolimbic functional connectivity drive information seeking in real life

Curiosity reflects the intrinsic motivation of an individual to seek information in order to close information gaps. Laboratory-based experiments have shown that both curiosity and information seeking are associated with enhanced neural dynamics in the mesolimbic dopaminergic circuit. However, it is unclear whether curiosity and its associated neural dynamics in the dopaminergic circuit drive information seeking in real life. The present study investigated (i) whether curiosity traits predict different characteristics of real-life information seeking and (ii) whether functional connectivity within the mesolimbic dopaminergic circuit is associated with information seeking outside of the laboratory. Up to 15 month before the COVID-19 pandemic, we conducted curiosity and anxiety questionnaires as well as a 10-minute resting-state fMRI session. In a follow-up survey early during the COVID-19 pandemic, participants repeated the questionnaires and filled out an additional questionnaire about their COVID-19-related information seeking. Curiosity but not anxiety remained stable over time. Individual differences in curiosity were positively associated with the frequency of information-seeking behaviour. Anxiety during the pandemic was not linked to any characteristics of real-life information seeking. Interestingly, the frequency of information seeking was also independently predicted by individual differences in resting-state functional connectivity between the ventral tegmental area and the nucleus accumbens. The present translational study paves the way for future studies on the role of curiosity in real-life information seeking by showing that curiosity drives information seeking in real-life situations and that the curiosity-promoting mesolimbic dopaminergic functional network supports the frequency of real-life information-seeking behaviour. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTCuriosity is a key driver of learning and information seeking in everyday life. However, the temporal stability of curiosity traits, their relationship to real-life information seeking, and the associated dopaminergic brain activity are poorly understood. The present study provides evidence that curiosity traits are stable over time - even through a major event, such as the COVID-19 pandemic - and that both curiosity and intrinsic functional connectivity within the mesolimbic dopaminergic circuit are associated with the frequency of real-life information seeking. These findings contribute to a better understanding of cognitive and neural differences that shape how individuals seek out information and may offer the opportunity to help individuals with suboptimal information-seeking behaviour that negatively affects their well-being or mental health.

neuroscience↗