DeYoung’s Research Referenced in The Science Times

Many people enjoy the action of learning and knowing new things. In a recent The Science Times article, this habit is referred to as being a nerd. In the article titled, “Explaining Nerdiness: Some People Find Excitement in Knowing New Things,” the neurobiological process of learning something new is just the influx of dopamine. While many know dopamine as the “happy hormone,” Colin DeYoung, PhD, University of Minnesota Psychology Department, refers to it as “the neuromodulator of exploration." DeYoung proposes the connection between dopamine with the reward value of information. This helps to explain the drive seen in people who enjoy learning new information as they integrate these data in order to fuel their personal growth.