Curiosity evolves as information unfolds

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2301974120
• Publication Date: 2023-10-16T19:13:23Z
• Authors: Abigail Hsiung; Jia-Hou Poh; Scott A. Huettel; R. Alison Adcock
• Keywords: Curiosity

When people feel curious, they often seek information to resolve their curiosity. Reaching resolution, however, does not always occur in a single step but instead may follow the accumulation of over time. Here, we investigated changes curiosity dynamic information-gathering process and how these related affective cognitive states as well behavior. Human participants performed an Evolving Line Drawing Task, during which reported guesses about drawings’ identities made choices whether keep watching. In Study 1, timing was predetermined externally imposed, while 2, had agency choices. Using this paradigm, found that even within episode, evolved concert with other emotional confidence. both studies, showed relationship between confidence depended on stimulus entropy (unique across participants) guess accuracy. We demonstrated is multifaceted can be experienced either positive or negative depending state gathering. Critically, when given choice alleviate uncertainty immediately (i.e., view spoiler), higher promoted continuing engage process. Collectively, show drive engagement external stimuli, rather than shortcut path highlighting value inherent discovery.