People who welcome new experiences have stronger connections between their memory and reward brain centers, according to new research.
People who actively seek lifestyle changes may have a more developed connection between two brain areas -- the hippocampus, a site for storing and retrieving memories, and the ventral striatum, a reward system. If the hippocampus identifies an experience as new, it then relays signals to the striatum to release neurotransmitters which lead to positive feelings.
Researchers used non-invasive MRI imaging technology on 20 subjects to follow the flow of diffused water through their brain tissues. The information was then used to reconstruct a nerve pathway to the striatum. The test candidates also took personality surveys, choosing the best descriptions of their attitudes about trying new things. The data revealed the relationships between a person’s personality and their physical brain structure.