Curiosity, understood as an innate desire to explore, discover and understand, is a fundamental trait of human nature. This impulse is at the basis of the learning process, as it pushes us to ask questions, seek answers and build new cognitive connections. Numerous studies in the educational and neuroscientific fields confirm that curiosity not only stimulates the acquisition of new knowledge, but also promotes memory and critical processing of information.
One of the most common mistakes in professional athletes is remaining attached to the personal technique and tactic.
The top tennis players for example showed in the last twenty years that they changed everything they needed to figure out problems after a weak performance in specific conditions.
For example Nadal added more aggressive tactics, Federer exasperated aggressive tactics introducing the chip and charge, Djokovic improved the anticipation and the serve.
Curiosity and the Brain: A Biological Connection
Curiosity activates the brain’s reward system, releasing dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and motivation. A study conducted by Kang et al. (2009) showed that, when a person is curious about a topic, the regions of the brain associated with learning and memory (such as the hippocampus) show greater activity. This suggests that curiosity creates a fertile ground for the storage of information, significantly improving the learning process.
Curiosity as an educational lever
In the school context, curiosity is a powerful tool to motivate students. If educators are able to stimulate authentic questions and interests, students become active protagonists of their learning. As highlighted by Engel (2011), “children are born curious, but the educational environment can stifle or fuel this natural predisposition”. This means that a teaching approach that values discovery and problem solving can increase not only participation, but also academic results.
What about teachers competences?
Teacher, coach and trainers have to be like surgeons. They have to be ready and able to cut, take off, add and rebuild, breaking a movement and change the only missed chunk of the kinetic chain.
Same for a physical trainer analyzing the muscle or muscles group that doesn’t work well and develop it to prevent an injury.
Or in re – habilitation protect the injured zone working around to push up the weak muscle, tendon or joint.
Cannot exist a teacher if there are no competences otherwise the approach will be conservative and “intolerant” to the curiosity.
Curiosity and lifelong learning
Curiosity is not limited to childhood or formal education, but is also a key element in lifelong learning. In a constantly evolving world, the ability to ask questions and adapt to new knowledge is crucial. As highlighted by Kashdan and Silvia (2009), highly curious people show greater resilience and greater psychological well-being, as they are motivated to explore and face challenges with an open mind.
How to nurture curiosity? The cat approach
Home cats are thought of essentially the most curious animal on the planet. They at all times love to do new stuff and study their environment. Cats are very good and considerate species and have the flexibility to find new issues.
Don’t be koala! Koalas possess one of the smallest brains of all the mammals.
The curious people are skeptical, they need to check before trusting. They need to check the quality, the origins, the objectivity of the knowledge.
To promote curiosity, it is essential to create environments that stimulate discovery and creativity. This may include:
Conclusion
Curiosity is the engine of learning. Cultivating it means not only encouraging cognitive development, but also promoting personal and social well-being. As Albert Einstein said, “I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” This simple principle encapsulates a fundamental truth: curiosity is the seed from which all knowledge grows.
