What question did this study set out to answer?

The study examines how past learning influences curiosity and memory, testing two competing hypotheses.

Learning reinforces curiosity for related information

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Randomized trial shows that satisfying curiosity increases future curiosity in individuals, indicating a learning-based approach to curiosity.

The study examines how past learning influences curiosity and memory, testing two competing hypotheses.
Analyzed choices of 5,831 participants regarding waiting for answers to various questions.
Measured engagement with questions and answers, along with information prediction errors.
Compared effects of satisfying versus dissatisfying answers on subsequent curiosity.
Reading satisfying answers increased curiosity compared to dissatisfying ones, depending on relatedness of new information.
Curiosity is strengthened when new information is semantically similar to previously learned content.

Abir et al. (2026) studied this question.

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Randomized trial shows that satisfying curiosity increases future curiosity in individuals, indicating a learning-based approach to curiosity.