Examination of the impact of curiosity and fatigue on brain condition

Abstract

Abstract With a growing emphasis on cognitive well-being, this study investigates factors influencing brain health, measured by Fractional Anisotropy Brain Healthcare Quotient (FA-BHQ). We find a positive correlation between curiosity, assessed by the Curiosity and Exploration Inventory-II (CEI-II), and brain health as indicated by FA-BHQ. Conversely, fatigue, evaluated using the Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFS), demonstrates a negative correlation with brain health. Furthermore, curiosity and fatigue serve as significant mediators in the relationship between these factors and FA-BHQ, respectively. Specific brain regions, including the corpus callosum, internal capsule, fornix, and posterior thalamic radiation, show significant negative correlations with fatigue, while the corpus callosum, fornix, internal capsule, corona radiata, external capsule, cingulum, and posterior thalamic radiation exhibit significant positive correlations with curiosity. Notably, this study highlights that more brain regions exhibit significant correlations with curiosity compared to fatigue, shedding light on the growing recognition of curiosity’s role in influencing brain health and emphasizing the importance of considering curiosity in the research on cognitive well-being.