Brain's Reward Mechanism For Learning

[Rich Travs]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/06/060620170342.htm

Neuroscientists have proposed a simple explanation for
the pleasure of grasping a new concept: The brain is
getting its fix.

The "click" of comprehension triggers a biochemical cascade
that rewards the brain with a shot of natural opium-like
substances, said Irving Biederman of the University of
Southern California. He presents his theory in an invited
article in the latest issue of American Scientist. ... The
brain's craving for a fix motivates humans to maximize the
rate at which they absorb knowledge, he said.

"I think we're exquisitely tuned to this as if we're junkies,
second by second."

Biederman hypothesized that knowledge addiction has strong
evolutionary value because mate selection correlates closely
with perceived intelligence.

Only more pressing material needs, such as hunger, can
suspend the quest for knowledge, he added.

The same mechanism is involved in the aesthetic experience,
Biederman said, providing a neurological explanation for the
pleasure we derive from art. ...

Yes, very interesting from an evolutionary viewpoint.

[richardpar]

Rich Travsky wrote:
> http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/06/06062017-
> 0342.htm
>
> Neuroscientists have proposed a simple explanation for the
> pleasure of grasping a new concept: The brain is getting
> its fix.
>
> The "click" of comprehension triggers a biochemical cascade
> that rewards the brain with a shot of natural opium-like
> substances, said Irving Biederman of the University of
> Southern California. He presents his theory in an invited
> article in the latest issue of American Scientist. ... The
> brain's craving for a fix motivates humans to maximize the
> rate at which they absorb knowledge, he said.
>
> "I think we're exquisitely tuned to this as if we're
> junkies, second by second."
>
> Biederman hypothesized that knowledge addiction has strong
> evolutionary value because mate selection correlates
> closely with perceived intelligence.
>
> Only more pressing material needs, such as hunger, can
> suspend the quest for knowledge, he added.
>
> The same mechanism is involved in the aesthetic experience,
> Biederman said, providing a neurological explanation for
> the pleasure we derive from art. ...
>
> Yes, very interesting from an evolutionary viewpoint.

Eureka! That feels good enough to run naked down the street.

Roll another one, my friend.

[Rich Travs]

Jois wrote:
>
> "Rich Travsky" <traRvEsky@hotmMOVEail.com> wrote in message
> news:449AA2C9.48B898FA@hotmMOVEail.com...
> >
> > http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/06/06062017034-
> > 2.htm
> >
> > Neuroscientists have proposed a simple explanation for
> > the pleasure of grasping a new concept: The brain is
> > getting its fix.
> >
> > The "click" of comprehension triggers a biochemical
> > cascade that rewards the brain with a shot of natural
> > opium-like substances, said Irving Biederman of the
> > University of Southern California. He presents his theory
> > in an invited article in the latest issue of American
> > Scientist. ... The brain's craving for a fix motivates
> > humans to maximize the rate at which they absorb
> > knowledge, he said.
> >
> > "I think we're exquisitely tuned to this as if we're
> > junkies, second by second."
> >
> > Biederman hypothesized that knowledge addiction has
> > strong evolutionary value because mate selection
> > correlates closely with perceived intelligence.
> >
> > Only more pressing material needs, such as hunger, can
> > suspend the quest for knowledge, he added.
> >
> > The same mechanism is involved in the aesthetic
> > experience, Biederman said, providing a neurological
> > explanation for the pleasure we derive from art. ...
> >
> > Yes, very interesting from an evolutionary viewpoint.
>
> I've been watching a baby's growth and development for 4.5
> months now and have been highly entertained. This
> "developmental trail" is relentless even though the baby
> can't possibly know what the purpose of grasping his other
> hand could be or how success leads to the next step. It is
> obvious that the baby delights in accomplishing each task.
> Maybe babies get that "biochemical cascade that rewards the
> brain," too.

I've observed this in dogs too, tho to a lesser degree. I've
read trained horses get exuberant when performing...