BrainHealth Presents: Everyday Curiosity

This talk and discussion explores how curiosity can relate to a healthy, aging brain. An invited presentation for BrainHealth Presents, sponsored by University of Texas at Dallas' Center for BrainHealth on March 21, 2024. View the full talk at https://youtu.be/9pxnU4K9LoE.

Transcript

1. everday curiosity · cassini nazir Everyday Curiosity · BrainHealth Presents: UT Dallas Center for BrainHealth · 21 March 2024
2. everday curiosity · cassini nazir · ia conference · ia conference · 20 april 2022 me Parents play an outsized role in shaping our curiosity. My mother encouraged it. mom
3. everday curiosity · cassini nazir · ia conference · 20 april 2022 3 My father did, too. CURIOSITY IN PRACTICE We shared the same haircut. My father telling me a joke. My father feeding me dinner.
4. everday curiosity · cassini nazir 4 Designers are not in the business of creating interfaces. We are in the business of designing memories. Design is…
5. everday curiosity · cassini nazir A SHORT WARM-UP 5 reality Design is…
6. everday curiosity · cassini nazir A SHORT WARM-UP 6 reality perceive Design is…
7. everday curiosity · cassini nazir A SHORT WARM-UP 7 attention reality perceive Design is…
8. everday curiosity · cassini nazir A SHORT WARM-UP 8 engram (memory) reality perceive attention Design is…
9. everday curiosity · cassini nazir A SHORT WARM-UP 9 recall reality perceive attention engram (memory) Design is…
10. everday curiosity · cassini nazir A SHORT WARM-UP 10 reality perceive attention engram (memory) recall Design is… Long after 
 the experience has passed, 
 what is the memory 
 I wish to remain?
11. everday curiosity · cassini nazir 11
12. everday curiosity · cassini nazir There is no monolithic view of curiosity. CURIOSITY > EMPATHY Philosophy & Science tone and tenor of curiosity Psychology how curiosity manifests Education how curiosity edifies Arts & Design how experiences might intrigue Plato Aristotle Apuelius Augustine Francis Bacon Thomas Hobbes David Hume Plutarch Seneca Galileo Speculative design Dunne & Raby Reflective practice Donald Schön Making Strange Viktor Shklovsky Estrangement Bertolt Brecht Self-Estrangement Eugene Ionesco Post-humanism Rosi Braidotti Alterity Ihde & Verbeek Strange-making Genevieve Bell Exformation Kenya Hara Design for Care Peter Jones Post-human pluralism Ron Wakkary Personal Growth Todd Kashdan Novelty Edward Deci Interest/Deprivation Jordan Litman Information Gap
 George Lowenstein Workplace curiosity Spencer Harrison Wheel of Emotions Robert Plutchik Sensation Seeking Marvin Zuckerman Optimal arousal Dan Berlyne Ethics of curiosity Sundar Sarukkai Knowledge gap William James Social / intellectual John Dewey Sensory curiosity 
 Jean Piaget Social Curiosity Britta Renner Curiosity Studies Perry Zurn 12
13. everday curiosity · cassini nazir motivation to explore. Curiosity is WHAT IS CURIOSITY? Hans-Georg Voss 13
14. everday curiosity · cassini nazir curiosity what we 
 know what we 
 want to know Curiosity arises when there’s a gap between what we know and want to know. WHAT IS CURIOSITY? 14 Loewenstein, G. (1994). The psychology of curiosity: A review and reinterpretation. Psychological Bulletin, 116(1), 75–98.
15. everday curiosity · cassini nazir 15 inform engage delight attract Businesses seek to harness curiosity and creativity. CURIOSITY IN PRACTICE
16. everday curiosity · cassini nazir 16 inform engage delight attract Businesses seek to harness curiosity and creativity. CURIOSITY IN PRACTICE
17. everday curiosity · cassini nazir 17 inform engage delight attract Businesses seek to harness curiosity and creativity. CURIOSITY IN PRACTICE curiosity
18. everday curiosity · cassini nazir 18 inform engage delight attract Businesses seek to harness curiosity and creativity. CURIOSITY IN PRACTICE curiosity
19. everday curiosity · cassini nazir 19 inform engage delight attract Businesses seek to harness curiosity and creativity. CURIOSITY IN PRACTICE
20. everday curiosity · cassini nazir 20 inform engage delight attract Well executed moments of curiosity can shorten the distance. CURIOSITY IN PRACTICE
21. everday curiosity · cassini nazir epistemic diversive specific perceptual MOTI VATI ON B E H AVI O R instinctual, exploratory behavior — not just in humans desire for knowledge — primarily in humans persevere to find an answer desire for stimulation, 
 related to boredom 21
22. everday curiosity · cassini nazir epistemic diversive specific perceptual MOTI VATI ON B E H AVI O R instinctual, exploratory behavior — not just in humans desire for knowledge — primarily in humans persevere to find an answer desire for stimulation, 
 related to boredom monkey solves a problem rat explores a maze bored teenager flips channels scientist search for solutions 22 Loewenstein, G. (1994). The psychology of curiosity: A review and reinterpretation. Psychological Bulletin, 116(1), 75–98.
23. everday curiosity · cassini nazir epistemic diversive specific perceptual MOTI VATI ON B E H AVI O R instinctual, exploratory behavior — not just in humans desire for knowledge — primarily in humans persevere to find an answer desire for stimulation, 
 related to boredom 23 children
24. everday curiosity · cassini nazir epistemic diversive specific perceptual instinctual, exploratory behavior — not just in humans desire for knowledge — primarily in humans persevere to find an answer desire for stimulation, 
 related to boredom 24 Activities exist for each of these areas.
25. everday curiosity · cassini nazir epistemic diversive specific perceptual instinctual, exploratory behavior — not just in humans desire for knowledge — primarily in humans persevere to find an answer desire for stimulation, 
 related to boredom 25 Was that a magic berry? Did you bury the treasure? Do 1 2 3 Why don’t you breathe air? Are you heir to the throne? Did you step on an ant? How is your aunt? 1 2 3 4 ? Venus Williams Was that a magic berry? Did you bury the treasure? Do you eat cereal? Is that podcast a serial? 1 2 3 4 Isn’t it time we ate? Was dinner at eight? Were you in a band? Was your music banned? 1 2 3 4 How is your aunt? 4 Why are you standing in the aisle Didn’t you visit an island? 4 Björn Borg Venus Williams
26. everday curiosity · cassini nazir youtu.be/U43t2xpF-oM Rosencrantz and Guildenstern lob questions at each other in the Tom Stoppard play.
27. everday curiosity · cassini nazir epistemic diversive specific perceptual instinctual, exploratory behavior — not just in humans desire for knowledge — primarily in humans persevere to find an answer desire for stimulation, 
 related to boredom 27 Björn Borg Venus Williams Björn Borg Venus Williams Was that a magic berry? Did you bury the treasure? Do you eat cereal? Is that podcast a serial? 1 2 3 4 Isn’t it time we ate? Was dinner at eight? Were you in a band? Was your music banned? 1 2 3 4 Why don’t you breathe air? Are you heir to the throne? Did you step on an ant? How is your aunt? 1 2 3 4 ( ) Did you see that online ad? Do you know how to add? Why are you standing in the aisle? Didn’t you visit an island? 1 2 3 4 Björn Borg Björn Borg Question Tennis
28. everday curiosity · cassini nazir © Copyright Yevhen Samuchenko / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards © Copyright Roie Galitz / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards © Copyright Tilakraj Nagaraj / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards epistemic diversive specific perceptual instinctual, exploratory behavior — not just in humans desire for knowledge — primarily in humans persevere to find an answer desire for stimulation, 
 related to boredom 28 © Copyright Yevhen Samuchenko / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards Björn Borg Venus Williams Björn Borg Venus Williams Was that a magic berry? Did you bury the treasure? Do you eat cereal? Is that podcast a serial? 1 2 3 4 Isn’t it time we ate? Was dinner at eight? Were you in a band? Was your music banned? 1 2 3 4 Why don’t you breathe air? Are you heir to the throne? Did you step on an ant? How is your aunt? 1 2 3 4 ( ) Did you see that online ad? Do you know how to add? Why are you standing in the aisle? Didn’t you visit an island? 1 2 3 4 Björn Borg Björn Borg Question Tennis © Copyright Geert Weggen / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards
29. everday curiosity · cassini nazir epistemic diversive specific perceptual instinctual, exploratory behavior — not just in humans desire for knowledge — primarily in humans persevere to find an answer desire for stimulation, 
 related to boredom 29 © Copyright Thomas Mangelsen © Copyright Tilakraj Nagaraj / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards © Copyright Geert Weggen / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards © Copyright Roie Galitz / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 40 Questions Björn Borg Venus Williams Björn Borg Venus Williams Was that a magic berry? Did you bury the treasure? Do you eat cereal? Is that podcast a serial? 1 2 3 4 Isn’t it time we ate? Was dinner at eight? Were you in a band? Was your music banned? 1 2 3 4 Why don’t you breathe air? Are you heir to the throne? Did you step on an ant? How is your aunt? 1 2 3 4 ( ) Did you see that online ad? Do you know how to add? Why are you standing in the aisle? Didn’t you visit an island? 1 2 3 4 Björn Borg Björn Borg Question Tennis
30. everday curiosity · cassini nazir https://interactive.wttw.com/chicago-stories/inventing-improv/demonstrating-viola-spolin-theater-games
31. everday curiosity · cassini nazir epistemic diversive specific perceptual instinctual, exploratory behavior — not just in humans desire for knowledge — primarily in humans persevere to find an answer desire for stimulation, 
 related to boredom 31 Björn Borg Venus Williams Björn Borg Venus Williams Was that a magic berry? Did you bury the treasure? Do you eat cereal? Is that podcast a serial? 1 2 3 4 Isn’t it time we ate? Was dinner at eight? Were you in a band? Was your music banned? 1 2 3 4 Why don’t you breathe air? Are you heir to the throne? Did you step on an ant? How is your aunt? 1 2 3 4 ( ) Did you see that online ad? Do you know how to add? Why are you standing in the aisle? Didn’t you visit an island? 1 2 3 4 Question Tennis © Copyright Thomas Mangelsen © Copyright Tilakraj Nagaraj / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards © Copyright Geert Weggen / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards © Copyright Roie Galitz / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 40 Questions Gibberish
32. everday curiosity · cassini nazir 32 Paul Rand CURIOSITY IN PRACTICE
33. everday curiosity · cassini nazir 33 CURIOSITY IN PRACTICE
34. everday curiosity · cassini nazir 34 Rules of Rebus CURIOSITY > EMPATHY 1. Only images or pantomimes. 2. No audible or written words. Created by Oleksandr Panasovskyi from the Noun Project WORDS
35. everday curiosity · cassini nazir 35 +
36. everday curiosity · cassini nazir 36 + Yawn Knee
37. everday curiosity · cassini nazir 37 + = Yawn Knee Yanni
38. everday curiosity · cassini nazir epistemic diversive specific perceptual instinctual, exploratory behavior — not just in humans desire for knowledge — primarily in humans persevere to find an answer desire for stimulation, 
 related to boredom 38 Björn Borg Venus Williams Björn Borg Venus Williams Was that a magic berry? Did you bury the treasure? Do you eat cereal? Is that podcast a serial? 1 2 3 4 Isn’t it time we ate? Was dinner at eight? Were you in a band? Was your music banned? 1 2 3 4 Why don’t you breathe air? Are you heir to the throne? Did you step on an ant? How is your aunt? 1 2 3 4 ( ) Did you see that online ad? Do you know how to add? Why are you standing in the aisle? Didn’t you visit an island? 1 2 3 4 Question Tennis © Copyright Thomas Mangelsen © Copyright Tilakraj Nagaraj / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards © Copyright Geert Weggen / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards © Copyright Roie Galitz / Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards 40 Questions Gibberish Rebus Yanni Yawn Knee + = How else can we indulge our curiosity?
39. everday curiosity · cassini nazir Coaxing curiosity to come forward is challenging. 39 Huh?
40. everday curiosity · cassini nazir Coaxing curiosity to come forward is challenging. 40 Huh? Hmm...
41. everday curiosity · cassini nazir rage vigilance ecstasy admiration terror amazement grief loathing disgust boredom anger annoyance interest anticipation joy serenity acceptance trust fear apprehension distracted surprise sadness pensive remorse disapproval awe submission love optimism aggressiveness contempt 41 Emotions are complex. WHAT IS CURIOSITY? Plutchik, R. (2001). The Nature of Emotions. American Scientist, 89(4), 344-350.
42. everday curiosity · cassini nazir 42 joy trust trust fear fear surprise surprise sadness sadness disgust disgust anger anger anticipation anticipation joy love submission alarm remorse contempt aggression optimism disappointment often-felt emotions Emotions are complex. WHAT IS CURIOSITY?
43. everday curiosity · cassini nazir 43 joy trust trust fear fear surprise surprise sadness sadness disgust disgust anger anger anticipation anticipation joy love submission alarm remorse contempt aggression optimism disappointment often-felt emotions anticipation surprise joy fear fear surprise sadness sadness anger anger trust disgust anticipation joy guilt despair envy pride fatalism unbelief sometimes felt trust disgust curiosity cynicism Emotions are complex. WHAT IS CURIOSITY?
44. everday curiosity · cassini nazir 44 joy trust trust fear fear surprise surprise sadness sadness disgust disgust anger anger anticipation anticipation joy love submission alarm remorse contempt aggression optimism disappointment often-felt emotions joy trust trust fear fear surprise surprise sadness sadness disgust disgust anger anger anticipation anticipation joy delight sentimentality shame pessimism morbidness dominance anxiety outrage seldom felt anticipation surprise joy fear fear surprise sadness sadness anger anger trust disgust anticipation joy guilt despair envy pride fatalism unbelief sometimes felt trust disgust curiosity cynicism Emotions are complex. WHAT IS CURIOSITY?
45. everday curiosity · cassini nazir 45 joy trust trust fear fear surprise surprise sadness sadness disgust disgust anger anger anticipation anticipation joy love submission alarm remorse contempt aggression optimism disappointment often-felt emotions joy trust trust fear fear surprise surprise sadness sadness disgust disgust anger anger anticipation anticipation joy delight sentimentality shame pessimism morbidness dominance anxiety outrage seldom felt anticipation surprise joy fear fear surprise sadness sadness anger anger trust disgust anticipation joy guilt despair envy pride fatalism unbelief sometimes felt trust disgust curiosity cynicism Emotions are complex. WHAT IS CURIOSITY?
46. everday curiosity · cassini nazir 46 joy trust trust fear fear surprise surprise sadness sadness disgust disgust anger anger anticipation anticipation joy love submission alarm remorse contempt aggression optimism disappointment often-felt emotions joy trust trust fear fear surprise surprise sadness sadness disgust disgust anger anger anticipation anticipation joy delight sentimentality shame pessimism morbidness dominance anxiety outrage seldom felt anticipation surprise joy fear fear surprise sadness sadness anger anger trust disgust anticipation joy guilt despair envy pride fatalism unbelief sometimes felt trust disgust curiosity cynicism Emotions are complex. WHAT IS CURIOSITY?
47. everday curiosity · cassini nazir fear sadness guilt surprise trust curiosity + 47 Emotions are complex. WHAT IS CURIOSITY?
48. everday curiosity · cassini nazir 48 joy trust trust fear fear surprise surprise sadness sadness disgust disgust anger anger anticipation anticipation joy love submission alarm remorse contempt aggression optimism disappointment often-felt emotions joy trust trust fear fear surprise surprise sadness sadness disgust disgust anger anger anticipation anticipation joy delight sentimentality shame pessimism morbidness dominance anxiety outrage seldom felt anticipation surprise joy fear fear surprise sadness sadness anger anger trust disgust anticipation joy guilt despair envy pride fatalism unbelief sometimes felt trust disgust curiosity cynicism Emotions are complex. WHAT IS CURIOSITY?
49. everday curiosity · cassini nazir 49 anticipation Curiosity is fragile — slightly change the tincture and its composition changes entirely. WHAT IS CURIOSITY? surprise curiosity shock cynicism fatalism trust disgust joy sadness delight disappointment anticipation optimism pessimism Inspired by Orlando Gomez. Plutchik and economics: ‘...Disgust, Fear, and, Oh Yes, Love’. http:/ /hdl.handle.net/10071/17999
50. everday curiosity · cassini nazir 50
51. everday curiosity · cassini nazir invitation 51
52. everday curiosity · cassini nazir invitation trust approaches elicits emotions anticipation awe distraction frustration interest reflection splendor inquisitiveness speculation wonder challenge delay hide humor novelty obscure playfulness perceptual sensory tease 52
53. everday curiosity · cassini nazir invitation response trust 53
54. everday curiosity · cassini nazir invitation response inflection 54 trust
55. everday curiosity · cassini nazir surprise invitation response reward 55 trust
56. everday curiosity · cassini nazir 56
57. everday curiosity · cassini nazir invitation response reward 57 surprise trust
58. everday curiosity · cassini nazir trust surprise 58 response accepted reward joy + connection invitation playfulness inquisitiveness →
59. everday curiosity · cassini nazir · ia conference · 20 april 2022 59 “ The idea of living a long life appeals to everyone
60. everday curiosity · cassini nazir · ia conference · 20 april 2022 60 “ The idea of living a long life appeals to everyone, but the idea of getting old doesn't appeal to anyone.” — Andy Rooney
61. everday curiosity · cassini nazir Our life is a series of four sets of 8,000 days. WHAT IS CURIOSITY? 61 8,000 days 0-21 years 2 3 4 8,000 days 21-42 years 8,000 days 42-65 years 8,000 days 65-87 years 1 5 87+ years
62. everyday curiosity · cassini nazir EVERDAY CURIOSITY 62 Begin a new behavior What new thing do you want to try? What do you want to do again? Renew familiar behavior What do you want to do more? Increase behavior intensity What do you want to do less? Decrease behavior intensity What do you want to stop entirely? Stop existing behavior One time behavior What new thing might you try just once? How can dots turn into lines? Has a duration What activity might you do often? Lasting change Is done from now on Attend a workshop tonight. Take a nature walk tomorrow. Engage in journaling today. Mindless scrolling before bed. Procrastinating on work today. Start new hobby next week. Get my degree next year. Read 4 books this summer. Wake up earlier this month. No negative self-talk in 2024. Grow your own vegetables. Bike to work. Buy more local produce. Eat less meat from now on. Never litter again. When? When? How can lines turn into paths of lasting change? Curiosity takes many forms. One of the patterns is in the form of an invitation, response, and reward. The activity makes curiosity more likely to occur by creating custom invitations for yourself. Each gray bar indicates a different duration. At the top are different behaviors in various colors. Instructions Use 1.5x2 inch sticky notes to write in ideas for each prompt. For example, write on a sticky note something new (green behavior) you can try for the first time (dot). Then place that sticky note on Box . Continue on to the other boxes. Hints • Use sticky notes so that you can use this workbook again and again. • When done, place this somewhere where you will see it regularly. Like your fridge. • Have a conversation with someone about your goals. Even better if they ask you about it at a later date. Print Download at http:/ /unknowing.design. shape your curiosity everyday curiosity © 2024 Cassini Nazir • Based on BJ Fogg’s Behavior Model. Version 02192024 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 2 3 4 5 Use sticky notes to answer the DOT questions. Let’s shape our curiosity.
63. everyday curiosity · cassini nazir EVERDAY CURIOSITY 63 Begin a new behavior What new thing do you want to try? What do you want to do again? Renew familiar behavior What do you want to do more? Increase behavior intensity What do you want to do less? Decrease behavior intensity What do you want to stop entirely? Stop existing behavior One time behavior What new thing might you try just once? How can dots turn into lines? Has a duration What activity might you do often? Lasting change Is done from now on Attend a workshop tonight. Take a nature walk tomorrow. Engage in journaling today. Mindless scrolling before bed. Procrastinating on work today. Start new hobby next week. Get my degree next year. Read 4 books this summer. Wake up earlier this month. No negative self-talk in 2024. Grow your own vegetables. Bike to work. Buy more local produce. Eat less meat from now on. Never litter again. When? When? How can lines turn into paths of lasting change? Curiosity takes many forms. One of the patterns is in the form of an invitation, response, and reward. The activity makes curiosity more likely to occur by creating custom invitations for yourself. Each gray bar indicates a different duration. At the top are different behaviors in various colors. Instructions Use 1.5x2 inch sticky notes to write in ideas for each prompt. For example, write on a sticky note something new (green behavior) you can try for the first time (dot). Then place that sticky note on Box . Continue on to the other boxes. Hints • Use sticky notes so that you can use this workbook again and again. • When done, place this somewhere where you will see it regularly. Like your fridge. • Have a conversation with someone about your goals. Even better if they ask you about it at a later date. Print Download at http:/ /unknowing.design. shape your curiosity everyday curiosity © 2024 Cassini Nazir • Based on BJ Fogg’s Behavior Model. Version 02192024 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 2 3 4 5 Use sticky notes to answer the DOT questions. Let’s shape our curiosity.
64. everday curiosity · cassini nazir