“Curiosity may be what drives our brains to become so complex”

Key points

• Researchers trained thousands of artificial networks with varying curiosity levels.
• High-curiosity models learned faster and showed flexible, brain-like structures.
• Networks formed modular, hierarchical layouts similar to human brain architecture.
• Curiosity linked to maturation trajectories; mature networks resembled 20-year-old development.
• Experts suggest curiosity may shape education and future AI design.