Fearless to satisfy curiosity? Longitudinal relationships of sensitivity to reward and punishment with curiosity and the functional connectivity basis

Abstract

Curiosity, the intrinsic drive to know by acquiring novel information and experiencing novel stimuli, is widely regarded as a fundamental desire for exploration. Information is often perceived as a reward, and curiosity can manifest as the intense, even fearless, pursuit of potential rewards. However, curiosity is also considered to be a rational process, requiring individuals to weigh potential risks against anticipated benefits. To investigate the multifaceted nature of curiosity, this study used a cross-lagged panel model to examine the relationships between sensitivity to reward (SR), sensitivity to punishment (SP), and curiosity. A predictive model was then constructed using resting-state functional connectivity data through connectome-based predictive modelling. Building on the cross-lagged panel model results, a mediation analysis was conducted to investigate the mediating roles of SR and SP in the relationship between the predictive network and curiosity. The findings revealed that SR positively predicts curiosity and that the relationship between SP and curiosity is reciprocal and negative, with the negative prediction of SP being significantly stronger. Additionally, a negative curiosity prediction network was identified, with the strongest contributions being intra- and internetwork functional connectivity involving the motor, cerebellar, limbic and medial frontal networks. Finally, the curiosity prediction network was found to operate via the enhancement of SP and attenuation of SR. These findings provide preliminary evidence for associations between SR, SP, and curiosity over time and the incentive-driven yet adaptive nature of curiosity.