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Curiosity shapes spatial exploration and cognitive map formation in humans
Danlu Cen1, Eva Teichert2, Carl J Hodgetts2,3
1Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Wales, UK. danlu.cen@outlook.com.
Communications Psychology
|December 31, 2024
Summary
Curiosity drives spatial exploration and cognitive map formation. Individual differences in stress tolerance enhance this link, impacting how we learn about new environments.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Human Psychology
- Spatial Cognition
Background:
- Cognitive maps are fundamental for navigation and are theorized to develop partly from curiosity about novel environments.
- The precise influence of curiosity on human spatial exploration behaviors and subsequent cognitive map development remains largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how intrinsic curiosity states influence spatial exploration patterns in humans within unfamiliar virtual environments.
- To examine the relationship between visual exploration, curiosity, and subsequent interest.
- To determine if individual differences in curiosity traits, such as stress tolerance, modulate the curiosity-exploration link.
Main Methods:
- A virtual reality task was employed to observe spatial exploration behaviors.
- Measures of exploration complexity and visual exploration were recorded.
- Pre-exploration curiosity states and individual curiosity traits were assessed.
- A sketch map task was used to evaluate spatial-relational memory recall.
Main Results:
- Pre-exploration curiosity levels significantly predicted the extent of spatial exploration.
- Visual exploration markers correlated with post-exploration feelings of interest.
- Higher stress tolerance in individuals amplified the positive relationship between curiosity and spatial exploration.
- Both curiosity and spatial exploration positively predicted the accuracy of recalled spatial-relational details.
Conclusions:
- This study provides empirical evidence linking curiosity to exploratory behavior and cognitive map formation in humans.
- Curiosity appears to be a key driver of how individuals explore and learn about spatial environments.
- Individual differences in coping with uncertainty, like stress tolerance, play a crucial role in mediating the curiosity-exploration relationship.
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