Scientists in Atlanta, Georgia, have opined after an exhaustive study that the brain loves a surprise. The study was conducted on 25 men and women and studied their responses to different stimuli. Dr. Gregory S Berns of Emory University led the study. The fact that some people rely on an orderly routine, while others thrive on never knowing what the day will bring, may have something to do with the brain's "pleasure centers," researchers have found.
In the study, Berns and his colleagues gave the participants drops of water and fruit juice. Part of the time, the sequence of water and juice drops was predictable, while at other points the sequence varied.It was at this time of unpredictability that the researchers noticed marked stimulation in the brain's pleasure centers in many, but not all, of the participants. Although this study could not delve into why a surprise dash of juice or water would stimulate the brain, Berns speculated that the activity in the brain's pleasure centers is linked to people's personalities.
For instance, a person who craves twists and turns in life might show greater activity in response to a pleasant surprise than would a person who needs consistency.
Being alert to out-of-the-ordinary conditions, Dr. Berns noted, is important to survival.
So the next time you give someone a pleasant surprise, rest assured their brains would love you!!!
