The role of curiosity and absorption in regulating music reward:
evidence from laboratory and natural settings
Abstract
Music listening is widely regarded as one of the most pleasurable experiences in life. Accordingly, extensive research has shown the engagement of reward circuits during music-induced affective responses. However, existing studies on musical reward have often overlooked key processes, such as absorption and curiosity, which may significantly shape the musical experience and the reward derived from it.
Importantly, the activation of the reward system and subsequent dopamine release during music listening have been suggested to enhance memory processes. While studies have shown a positive impact of musical pleasure on memory for music itself, it remains unexplored whether it could affect memory for related information as well. In a similar vein, no research to date has investigated whether other musical reward-related processes, such as musical curiosity, may promote memory formation.
In the present thesis, we investigated how different music-related processes influence musical reward and subsequent memory performance through a series of behavioural studies in both laboratory and naturalistic settings.
The first study focused on pleasure and its effects on memory. We demonstrated that the previously reported positive effect of pleasant music on memory for music itself extends to verbal material presented simultaneously. Additionally, we showed that this effect is particularly strong in participants with higher musical hedonia.
In the second study, we adopted a psychometric approach to investigate the role of absorption – understood as individuals’ proneness to get carried away by music – in shaping musical reward. As a result, we developed the extended Barcelona Music Reward Questionnaire (eBMRQ), which includes a new four-item facet measuring absorption.
The third study assessed how curiosity states influence exploratory behavior and memory for music. Conducted in both laboratory and naturalistic settings, this study revealed that heightened music-induced curiosity states significantly enhance exploratory behaviors and improve memory performance. These effects are modulated by individual differences in electronic music liking and musical hedonia.
Finally, the fourth study examined the temporal dynamics and potential interplay of pleasure and curiosity in a naturalistic setting. Additionally, we assessed their effects on memory for music and information. Results revealed a complex interaction between the two constructs: while curiosity precedes pleasure when the music is unfamiliar, this pattern is reversed after providing abundant information about the musical piece. Again, participants’ musical hedonia correlates with both curiosity and pleasure ratings and significantly predicts memory performance.
Taken together, the present doctoral dissertation provides new evidence on the influence of absorption and curiosity processes on musical reward. It also offers novel insights into the temporal interplay between pleasure and curiosity. Finally, it corroborates the positive effects of these constructs on memory for music and information and highlights the importance of individual differences in musical hedonia in modulating these effects. We believe these findings pave the way for future research to consider the multifaceted nature of musical reward, thereby contributing to a broader understanding of reward mechanisms and their influence on memory enhancement.