Researchers from Duke discovered that adopting a curious mindset, rather than an urgent one, can enhance memory recall.
Alyssa Sinclair, a postdoctoral researcher, and her team engaged 420 adults in a virtual art museum heist computer game.
Participants were given different backstories: some were in-the-moment master thieves, while others were scouts planning a future heist. All participants, regardless of their backstory, played the exact same game.
The next day, participants took a surprise test on their memory of the paintings and their worth. The ‘curious’ group, who imagined planning a heist, performed better.
They recognized more paintings and remembered their values more accurately. On the other hand, the ‘urgent’ group excelled in identifying and collecting more valuable paintings in the game.
The study demonstrates how different mindsets can be useful in different scenarios. Urgency can be beneficial for short-term goals, while curiosity may better serve long-term memory and actions.
Brain Engagement and Mechanism
Urgency seems to activate the amygdala, aiding in forming efficient memories.
Curiosity appears to stimulate dopamine delivery to the hippocampus, vital for creating detailed long-term memories.
Real-World Applications
Health: Encouraging a sense of urgency might prompt immediate actions, such as getting a COVID vaccine.
Learning: Cultivating a curious mindset may be more effective for long-term information retention.
Psychiatry: The ability to shift between these modes can offer therapeutic advantages. Dr. Adcock believes teaching individuals to navigate between these mindsets can empower them with better cognitive flexibility.
The distinction between a curious and an urgent mindset can have significant consequences for memory and behavior.
Understanding and harnessing these differences offers potential in various real-world applications, from education to therapy.
If you care about mental health, please read studies about 6 daily habits to reduce stress & anxiety, and B vitamins could help prevent depression and anxiety.
For more information about mental health, please see recent studies about a big cause of depression in middle-aged and older people, and results showing a drug that can reduce depression and suicidal thoughts.
The study was published in PNAS.
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