Ness Labs: The Science of Curiosity 🧪

Edition #181 – March 9th, 2023

The Science of Curiosity

Did you notice how often kids tend to ask "why?" — why the sky is blue, why birds don't get electrocuted sitting on power lines, why there are so many languages in the world, why people die...

Then, somehow, as we grow up, we stop constantly questioning the world around us. We start to perceive our reality as self-evident, or we become so busy that we don't make space for these moments of playful mental exploration.

This is not just a subjective feeling. Scientists have extensively studied this phenomenon and even measured the rate at which our curiosity levels decline from childhood to adulthood. And this rate is remarkably fast.

I think we can all agree that this is a bit sad, and that we could all do with more episodes of curiosity in our lives. Well, the good news is: it is absolutely possible for adults to rekindle their curiosity!

This week, you'll learn all about the science of curiosity, how researchers investigate this complex area of psychology, and what you can do to inject more curiosity into your daily life. We'll also explore two fascinating tricks of the mind and how to avoid falling prey to them.

Enjoy your weekly dose of mindful productivity!
Anne-Laure.

P.S. Whether it is a new venture, a newborn, moving houses, moving cities... We all find ourselves at one point or another in a liminal space where the next steps are unclear and the future is uncertain. Join me and other community members for a virtual meetup next week all about navigating transitions.

🧠 Brain Food

The science of curiosity: why we keep asking “why” (6 min)
Written by Anne-Laure Le Cunff
Curiosity has magical properties which have been extensively studied by scientists, such as keeping you young, helping you learn, and fostering better relationships. However, large-scale studies suggest that our curiosity levels go from 98% in childhood to 2% in adulthood. What’s going on, and is it ever too late to rehabilitate our curiosity?

Magnification and minimization: two binocular tricks of the mind (6 min)
Written by Dr Hannah Rose
Although we'd like to think we have a realistic perception of ourselves and the world around us, many of our thoughts are actually inaccurate representations. Magnification and minimization are two such cognitive distortions that can trick the mind, impacting our sense of self, our mental health, and even the integrity of our decision-making. How can we learn to think more clearly?

💌 Brain Picks

• Nervous System Mastery is a five week bootcamp that will equip you with evidence-backed protocols to cultivate greater calm and agency over your internal state. You will learn how to rewire maladaptive stress responses, increase your capacity for focus and improve your sleep. Use code NESSLABS for a 10% discount.

• Circle is the all-in-one community platform for creators and brands. Bring together engaging courses, discussions, members, live streams, chat, events, and memberships — all in one place, all under your own brand. Try it for free for 14 days.