An innovative new study (don't be scared) by German researchers Michael X. Cohen and Dr. Bernd Weber suggests that the difference between these two personality types is how well developed the connections are between two specific parts of the brain: the ventral striatum and the hippocampus.

The ventral striatum is thought to be involved in the brain's reward system, specifically it is believed that it is involved in motivation to act when a reward is expected. The hippocampus is involved in memory.

In innovation-loving neophobes, both of these centres interact particularly well, according to Cohen and Weber. If the hippocampus identifies an experience as new, it then sends the corresponding feedback to the striatum. There, certain neurotransmitters are then released which lead to positive feelings. With people who constantly seek new experiences the striatum and hippocampus are wired particularly well.

The research was made possible by a revolutionary new method using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Up to now, it has been extremely difficult to make the individual 'wiring' of the brain visible.

'In principle this was only possible using cross sections of the brain of deceased people, which in addition had to be stained in a complex process,' Dr. Weber explained.

Thanks to a new method this is now a lot easier. With modern MRI you can actually determine in which directions the water in the tissue diffuses. Nerve fibres are an impenetrable obstacle for tissue fluid. It can only flow along them. These 'directional' streams of water are visible in the tomography image.

'With this hazard-free method we can work on completely new issues related to the function of the brain,' Cohen enthused

Source: Adapted from materials provided by EurekAlert (Press Release)