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Curiosity and surprise differentially affect memory depending on age
Alexandra Sobczak1, Tineke Steiger1, Marthe Mieling1
1Department of Psychology, University of Lübeck, Maria-Goeppert-Strasse 9a, 23562, Lübeck, Germany.
Scientific Reports
|September 12, 2025
Summary
State epistemic curiosity enhances long-term memory in adults, influenced by surprise, especially in younger individuals. Formal education also predicts curiosity, impacting lifelong learning.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Lifespan Development
Background:
- Epistemic curiosity, encompassing state and trait forms, influences cognition and behavior.
- Limited research exists on age-related changes, the role of surprise, and formal education's impact on epistemic curiosity.
- Understanding these factors is crucial for a comprehensive view of learning and knowledge acquisition across the lifespan.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of state and trait epistemic curiosity in long-term memory across different adult age groups.
- To examine the moderating effect of surprise on the relationship between epistemic curiosity and memory, considering age differences.
- To explore the predictive relationships between trait epistemic curiosity, formal education, and state epistemic curiosity.
Main Methods:
- Three behavioral experiments were conducted with a total of 331 participants (n=54, n=81, n=196).
- Participants' long-term memory for relevant information was assessed in relation to their state and trait epistemic curiosity levels.
- A mediation model was employed to analyze the interplay between trait curiosity, formal education, and state curiosity.
Main Results:
- State epistemic curiosity, not trait curiosity, significantly enhanced long-term memory in both young and older adults.
- Surprise modulated memory effects, with a stronger influence observed in younger adults, aligning with predictive coding and arousal theories.
- Trait epistemic curiosity directly predicted state curiosity, while formal education provided an indirect pathway.
Conclusions:
- State epistemic curiosity is a key driver of long-term memory across the adult lifespan.
- Age modulates the influence of surprise on curiosity-driven memory, potentially due to age-related changes in arousal processing.
- Formal education and trait curiosity interact to shape state curiosity, contributing to lifelong learning and knowledge acquisition.
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