Curiosity

Curiosity is a quality related to inquisitive thinking such as exploration, investigation, and learning, evident by observation in human and many animal species. It is the lust for either experience or knowledge, which may be as general (a love of knowledge) or as specific (a desire to know what is behind the next door) as the individual's mind may allow. Curiosity in Hebrew is תיאבון (tiavon) or תשוקה לידע (tishka lada'at). In Latin, it is translated as curiositas, which referred to the human tendency to seek knowledge and to act on one's impulse to do so. Curiosity has been viewed by some as the most fundamental of all psychological processes, with other elements of cognition being extensions or elaborations of this basic tendency. It has also been seen as the driving force behind problem-solving and invention. In humans, curiosity is a common motivation for exploration. It is often directed towards the discovery of information, contacts with individuals and of social groups, and the satisfaction of curiosity is intrinsically rewarding to the individual. There are indications that dopamine, a neurotransmitter in the brain's reward pathways, plays a role in promoting curiosity. The role of the neurotransmitter dopamine in promoting curiosity has been indicated by some studies.