Curiosity and the search for ideas are such beautiful things. Finding strings of patterns in the fabric of reality and pulling at it to unravel your understanding of the world is such a rewarding experience.
It is so strange how we are such pattern-seeking beings. We can’t help but make sense of the randomness that is this world. Heck, curiosity is deeply rooted biologically in us.
The hypothalamus acts as a center for homeostasis. It is the part of your brain that regulates temperature, hormones, sugar levels, water levels and so much more. It is one of the most ancient parts of your brain, which is why it’s often called the reptilian brain because we share it with, you guessed it— reptiles.
However, it also serves another interesting feature. You see the hypothalamus is in charge of your basic survival— food, water, safety, sex, etc. But, when cats were stripped off of most of their brains except the hypothalamus, they still were curious— they meandered out into the world and were out to discover their environment.
The oldest part of your brain, the one that signals for food and water and to bone, the part that needs to be satiated to not override your basic decision making is constantly seeking out more and more of something else— information, ideas, knowledge.
Aren’t we lucky that that is the only need of the hypothalamus that cannot be satiated?
Great read!