I tried "curiosity", after suffering a stroke. This is not a joke, I'm serious. I thought, "can I polish my toenails even though half of me is paralyzed"! 🙄😳 I did! The doctor was shocked. Couldn't walk, but I painted my darn toenails. I'm a visual artist today. 😌
Think about the resilience our entire species could generate with these simple steps to engage curiosity. And it's not just neuroscience. Among the most enlightened human beings I've ever come across, openness, innocent curiosity, comfort with ambiguity and the willingness to not know are doorways to expanding wisdom.
Ever hear the saying "curiosity killed the cat?" Curiosity very nearly got me killed several times throughout life. It's still true even today. It's also lead me to learn how to write software, take machines apart and put them back together while learning how they work, learn multiple languages, etc. I think neurodivergence has something to do with that. I have Autism and ADHD together; that's one hell of a dynamic duo! I do wonder if the aforementioned balancing act between the two networks of the brain is more intense in neurodivergent individuals.
Curiosity isn’t just a charming personality trait; it’s a dynamic engine that literally reshapes your brain. When you allow your curiosity to flourish, your brain’s reward centers particularly the ventral tegmental area release dopamine. This “feel-good” neurotransmitter not only makes the experience pleasurable but also enhances your brain’s learning and memory processes. In essence, this dopamine surge primes your hippocampus to encode new information more efficiently, fostering the formation of fresh neural pathways. This is one of the key ways that curiosity drives neural plasticity the brain’s ability to rewire itself based on our experiences.
Think of your brain as an intricate network of highways. Every time you embrace something new, you’re constructing or expanding these neural routes. The act of exploring an unfamiliar topic or tackling a novel challenge forces your prefrontal cortex to engage in deeper processing, strengthening the connections between different regions of your brain. As these connections solidify, you’re not only learning more but also enhancing your cognitive flexibility, creativity, and problem-solving skills. This continuous rewiring is your brain’s version of upgrading its operating system, making you more adaptable to life's complexities.
Moreover, neuroscience research has demonstrated that curiosity-driven learning can have profound implications beyond just memory. It can boost your overall well-being by sustaining an engaged and motivated mindset. In challenging times, a curious outlook can help you pivot, adapt, and even find innovative solutions to problems that once seemed insurmountable. It transforms obstacles into opportunities, fueling personal growth and resilience.
I love this perspective on curiosity as a superpower for navigating change. It’s a great reminder that how we approach the unknown can completely change our experience.
I often encourage my community to embrace a growth mindset and take small, meaningful risks. It’s about seeing challenges as curiosity experiments rather than pass/fail tests. When we approach setbacks this way, they become opportunities to learn, adapt, and discover new paths forward.
Thank you for sharing this! It’s a powerful reminder that we can choose to be curious even when things feel uncertain. Looking forward to more of your insights! 🌱
I love this so much. Curiosity is one of my favorite human traits. I have it in spades and look for it in others. I believe that going forward in the ai era, the most curious will be the most successful
This was a great read - I think it could be interesting to talk about certain capacities for curiosity. Like the curious lens that lead a child's path to learning vs an adult's who's might be more weighted down by the stuff they think know therefore sometimes they might not pursue inquisitivity about something or are maybe programmed to get less of an awe-induced thrill when wondering. However, on the flip-side that same adult knowledge can sometimes be a catalyst for curiosity.
The people without curiosity, who beliieve their identities are made of stone, are the same ones who are terrified of uncertainty. There is nothing more terrifying than a group of people who are frightened, and if they have a cause, run.
Fantastic article, navigating transitions with a curious mind can help us embrace change, and it's also an amazing practice to experiment with approaching even everyday tasks and frequent social interactions. It can make the mundane interesting, and help us find gratitude and learning in surprising places. I think it's a key practice for leaders to develop, being curious and open is the core of being present, and thus being perceived as having presence. I just wrote about this as well in exploring the concept of "The Beginner's Mind", please check it out!: https://open.substack.com/pub/hotneon/p/how-to-learn
I came across the concept on curiosity in my psychotherapy sessions, on how to be curious about my own emotions to be able to identify them better and subsequently act on them. This changed my overall perspective on curiosity and now as a product manager I am constantly trying to be curious about my users, their behaviour, their emotions everything!
Exploring why changing human behavior is so difficult:
A key reason lies in how our brain is wired—particularly the prefrontal cortex (PFC), responsible for reflection, self-control, and planning.
The PFC sets humans apart from other species. It develops slowly—mostly between age four and puberty—completing its connections only at the end of adolescence (Van der Linden, 2006). Meanwhile, our limbic system—the brain’s primitive emotional center—produces fast, impulsive reactions. This quick route bypasses reflection, triggering immediate responses to fear or anger. While essential for survival in the past, these impulses can be destructive today.
The brain also has a slow route, via the PFC, allowing thoughtful decisions. But activating this route requires more than time—it needs motivation. This is where curiosity becomes essential.
Curiosity sparks the PFC into action. When we become curious—about a situation, a person, or even our own reactions—we pause, question, and reframe our response. Instead of reacting, we reflect. Curiosity breaks old patterns and opens the door to new thinking
In this way, curiosity isn’t just a trait—it’s a tool for transforming how we think, behave, and grow as individuals and as a society.
I've been trying to lean into curiosity as a basic tenet for some time now and am delighted to know that it offers neurological as well as socio-emotional benefits. Great read!
I tried "curiosity", after suffering a stroke. This is not a joke, I'm serious. I thought, "can I polish my toenails even though half of me is paralyzed"! 🙄😳 I did! The doctor was shocked. Couldn't walk, but I painted my darn toenails. I'm a visual artist today. 😌
Neuroplastisity. I tried to "edit" my comment. Oh well.
Think about the resilience our entire species could generate with these simple steps to engage curiosity. And it's not just neuroscience. Among the most enlightened human beings I've ever come across, openness, innocent curiosity, comfort with ambiguity and the willingness to not know are doorways to expanding wisdom.
Ever hear the saying "curiosity killed the cat?" Curiosity very nearly got me killed several times throughout life. It's still true even today. It's also lead me to learn how to write software, take machines apart and put them back together while learning how they work, learn multiple languages, etc. I think neurodivergence has something to do with that. I have Autism and ADHD together; that's one hell of a dynamic duo! I do wonder if the aforementioned balancing act between the two networks of the brain is more intense in neurodivergent individuals.
I relate to this 100%
Curiosity isn’t just a charming personality trait; it’s a dynamic engine that literally reshapes your brain. When you allow your curiosity to flourish, your brain’s reward centers particularly the ventral tegmental area release dopamine. This “feel-good” neurotransmitter not only makes the experience pleasurable but also enhances your brain’s learning and memory processes. In essence, this dopamine surge primes your hippocampus to encode new information more efficiently, fostering the formation of fresh neural pathways. This is one of the key ways that curiosity drives neural plasticity the brain’s ability to rewire itself based on our experiences.
Think of your brain as an intricate network of highways. Every time you embrace something new, you’re constructing or expanding these neural routes. The act of exploring an unfamiliar topic or tackling a novel challenge forces your prefrontal cortex to engage in deeper processing, strengthening the connections between different regions of your brain. As these connections solidify, you’re not only learning more but also enhancing your cognitive flexibility, creativity, and problem-solving skills. This continuous rewiring is your brain’s version of upgrading its operating system, making you more adaptable to life's complexities.
Moreover, neuroscience research has demonstrated that curiosity-driven learning can have profound implications beyond just memory. It can boost your overall well-being by sustaining an engaged and motivated mindset. In challenging times, a curious outlook can help you pivot, adapt, and even find innovative solutions to problems that once seemed insurmountable. It transforms obstacles into opportunities, fueling personal growth and resilience.
I love this perspective on curiosity as a superpower for navigating change. It’s a great reminder that how we approach the unknown can completely change our experience.
I often encourage my community to embrace a growth mindset and take small, meaningful risks. It’s about seeing challenges as curiosity experiments rather than pass/fail tests. When we approach setbacks this way, they become opportunities to learn, adapt, and discover new paths forward.
Thank you for sharing this! It’s a powerful reminder that we can choose to be curious even when things feel uncertain. Looking forward to more of your insights! 🌱
I started writing 6 months ago and I get more curious as time goes on, I believe that I think better too. So actually rewiring my brain makes sense.
I love this so much. Curiosity is one of my favorite human traits. I have it in spades and look for it in others. I believe that going forward in the ai era, the most curious will be the most successful
This is also one of the best things you can do in relationships! Always be curious about your partner, especially in fights or arguments!
This was a great read - I think it could be interesting to talk about certain capacities for curiosity. Like the curious lens that lead a child's path to learning vs an adult's who's might be more weighted down by the stuff they think know therefore sometimes they might not pursue inquisitivity about something or are maybe programmed to get less of an awe-induced thrill when wondering. However, on the flip-side that same adult knowledge can sometimes be a catalyst for curiosity.
"A few years ago, I decided to retrain as a neuroscientist."- what an opening line!
The people without curiosity, who beliieve their identities are made of stone, are the same ones who are terrified of uncertainty. There is nothing more terrifying than a group of people who are frightened, and if they have a cause, run.
Fantastic article, navigating transitions with a curious mind can help us embrace change, and it's also an amazing practice to experiment with approaching even everyday tasks and frequent social interactions. It can make the mundane interesting, and help us find gratitude and learning in surprising places. I think it's a key practice for leaders to develop, being curious and open is the core of being present, and thus being perceived as having presence. I just wrote about this as well in exploring the concept of "The Beginner's Mind", please check it out!: https://open.substack.com/pub/hotneon/p/how-to-learn
The cure is in curiosity
exploration and discovery,
eager wings to spread.
itchy feet to travel
upon a path less tread.
to stare into the abyss,
to see what it reveals
if curiosity killed the cat...
then why is it
nipping at my heels?
I came across the concept on curiosity in my psychotherapy sessions, on how to be curious about my own emotions to be able to identify them better and subsequently act on them. This changed my overall perspective on curiosity and now as a product manager I am constantly trying to be curious about my users, their behaviour, their emotions everything!
Exploring why changing human behavior is so difficult:
A key reason lies in how our brain is wired—particularly the prefrontal cortex (PFC), responsible for reflection, self-control, and planning.
The PFC sets humans apart from other species. It develops slowly—mostly between age four and puberty—completing its connections only at the end of adolescence (Van der Linden, 2006). Meanwhile, our limbic system—the brain’s primitive emotional center—produces fast, impulsive reactions. This quick route bypasses reflection, triggering immediate responses to fear or anger. While essential for survival in the past, these impulses can be destructive today.
The brain also has a slow route, via the PFC, allowing thoughtful decisions. But activating this route requires more than time—it needs motivation. This is where curiosity becomes essential.
Curiosity sparks the PFC into action. When we become curious—about a situation, a person, or even our own reactions—we pause, question, and reframe our response. Instead of reacting, we reflect. Curiosity breaks old patterns and opens the door to new thinking
In this way, curiosity isn’t just a trait—it’s a tool for transforming how we think, behave, and grow as individuals and as a society.
I've been trying to lean into curiosity as a basic tenet for some time now and am delighted to know that it offers neurological as well as socio-emotional benefits. Great read!