Science Pub: The Need to Know: Dopamine, Memory, and the Need to Scroll

Science Pub: The Need to Know: Dopamine, Memory, and the Need to Scroll with Deepu Murty, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychology, Principal Investigator in the Adaptive Memory Laboratory at the University of Oregon

January 19, 2027 | 7-9pm; Doors at 6pm | Kennedy School Theater 

It’s 11 p.m. You open TikTok to check one thing, and suddenly it’s after midnight. That pull isn’t a lack of willpower. It’s curiosity, one of the brain’s most powerful motivational signals. When we feel uncertain and want to know what happens next, the brain floods key memory regions with dopamine, the same chemical messenger that guides us to seek reward like food or drugs. Curiosity evolved to help us learn about our world, but what happens when our digital environments try to keep us curious forever?

In this talk, Dr. Deepu Murty will take us inside the brain science underlying why we sometimes crave more information. We’ll explore how curiosity makes us seek out new information, how it helps us remember not just the answers we seek but everything around them, and how stress and anxiety may change these learning states. Then we’ll turn to our screens, looking at how infinite feeds, autoplay, and “For You” pages tap into these same learning systems, and why doomscrolling can feel both irresistible and empty. You’ll leave with a new appreciation for your curious brain, and maybe a few ideas for taking back control of your thumb.

Tickets: $8 suggested donation | Advance tickets recommended

Zoom Option: If you are unable to join us in person, you can watch on Zoom. You must register in advance. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.