26 jan Surprise is a fundamental aspect of both the natural world and human-designed games, serving as a catalyst for curiosity, motivation, and resilience. Unexpected rewards—those moments when outcomes deviate from our expectations—activate deep cognitive shifts that fuel lifelong learning and creative insight.
The Neural Architecture of Surprise: How Puzzles Activate Cognitive Flexibility The brain thrives on alignment; when expectations break, neural networks recalibrate. Puzzles, by design, disrupt established patterns, forcing the brain to reconfigure its approach. This process strengthens neural plasticity through iterative trial and error, where each...