ArticleScientific reports2025
Curiosity and surprise differentially affect memory depending on age.
Article in Scientific reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Schizotypy and subclinical depression relate to specific trait curiosity dimensions.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Subjective semantic search space as an estimate of prior knowledge predicts curiosity to learn among younger and older adults.Psychology and aging · 2026Article
- Curiosity in younger and older adults: the relationship between information value and memory.Frontiers in cognition · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
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Abstract
State and trait epistemic curiosity can promote various aspects of cognition and behavior. However, possible age-related changes, a link to surprise, and formal education remain understudied. In three behavioral experiments, with n = 54 in experiment 1, n = 81 in experiment 2, and n = 196 in experiment 3, we could show that state but not trait epistemic curiosity drives long-term memory for relevant information in young and healthy older adults (experiment 1 and 2). This effect was further modulated by surprise in young but less in older adults, which is compatible with predictive coding theories and the notion of a quadratic effect of arousal on cognition that vanishes with age (experiment 2). Finally, in a mediation model, state epistemic curiosity could be predicted directly from trait epistemic curiosity and indirectly via formal education (experiment 3). Our findings specify how state and trait curiosity, together with surprise, promote learning and facilitate knowledge acquisition across the adult lifespan.
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