Since ancient times, humans have embarked on journeys for various reasons. These might have been migrations for survival, explorations of the unknown, or simply expressions of curiosity. Even in modern society, many people travel to unfamiliar places during their vacations. Despite sometimes involving inconvenience and difficulties, why do we find travel so appealing?
The answer to this question can actually be found in our biological instincts. In this article, we’ll explore the “travel instinct” in humans from multiple perspectives.
Exploration Instinct and the Reward System Mechanism
Throughout evolution, humans have honed their abilities to explore and adapt. During the hunter-gatherer era, finding new hunting grounds or locations with food sources was key to survival. This exploratory behavior is closely linked to the brain’s reward system, with the neurotransmitter dopamine being released every time we make new discoveries.
A similar mechanism operates in modern travel. Encountering unfamiliar landscapes, experiencing new food cultures, and interacting with different customs—these experiences are recognized by the brain as “novelty rewards,” stimulating dopamine release. The exhilaration and fulfillment felt while traveling are precisely manifestations of this biological response.
Stress Response and Recovery Function
Interestingly, moderate stress has been shown to have positive effects on human physical and mental health. The appropriate level of uncertainty and unexpected events experienced during travel acts as “positive stress (eustress),” enhancing the brain’s adaptability and resilience.
Additionally, leaving our everyday environment provides relief from chronic stressors. Fresh experiences inhibit the secretion of cortisol (stress hormone) and promote the release of neurotransmitters like serotonin and endorphins, which bring mental and physical stability. This contributes to the refreshed feeling we experience after traveling.
Risk-Taking and Adventure Instinct
Some travelers deliberately visit dangerous regions or unexplored territories, seeking thrills. Though seemingly irrational, this behavior also has a biological foundation.
This “risk-seeking behavior” primarily involves two neurotransmitters: dopamine and noradrenaline. When facing a dangerous situation, increased noradrenaline secretion triggers a “fight-or-flight response,” characterized by elevated heart rate and heightened sensory awareness. Then, overcoming that situation results in a powerful dopamine release, producing intense pleasure.
This response was once an adaptive mechanism necessary for early humans to explore new territories and obtain new resources. In modern times, this instinct manifests as “adventure.” Especially for those living monotonous daily lives in contemporary society, travel involving moderate risk provides an opportunity to regain a lost “sense of being alive.”
However, there are significant individual differences in this biological mechanism. Research has shown that genetic variations create substantial differences in risk-seeking tendencies. In particular, individuals with specific variants of the dopamine receptor D4 gene demonstrate stronger “thrill-seeking” tendencies.
Strengthening Social Bonds
Humans are inherently social animals. Our ancestors moved in groups and lived cooperatively. In modern travel as well, time spent together promotes the secretion of oxytocin (a hormone associated with trust and attachment).
Especially, cooperation and shared experiences in unfamiliar environments create stronger bonds. This “shared experience effect” is felt as a deepening of relationships after travel. Even when traveling alone, interactions with locals and other travelers provide opportunities to create new social connections.
Memory Formation and Cognitive Enhancement
Experiences in new environments stimulate the hippocampus (a brain region important for memory formation). Stimuli different from the everyday tend to form more vivid memories. This evolved as an adaptive mechanism favorable for survival but functions as impressive travel memories in modern times.
Additionally, problem-solving in unfamiliar environments and exposure to different cultures enhance neural plasticity (the brain’s adaptive capacity). This improves cognitive flexibility and contributes to the development of creativity and problem-solving abilities. The broadened perspective we feel after traveling can be considered an awareness of these neurological changes.
Conclusion – The Significance of Travel in Modern Society
As we’ve seen, the desire to travel is deeply rooted in our instinctual and biological mechanisms. It’s not simply a way to spend leisure time but a manifestation of humanity’s fundamental desires.
Even in the modern era where digital technology makes virtual experiences possible, the multi-layered physiological and psychological effects of actual travel remain difficult to substitute. This is because they are based on our instincts, shaped through hundreds of thousands of years of evolution.
For those living in today’s stress-filled society, travel can be positioned as an important activity for maintaining mental and physical health, beyond mere recreation. It might be worthwhile to occasionally follow our instincts and choose to embark on journeys to unknown lands. New discoveries and experiences will surely revitalize our minds and bodies.
References:
- Tabi Labo Editorial Department. (2024). The “Urge to Travel” That’s Impossible to Suppress is Due to Genes. Tabi Labo. https://tabi-labo.com/276352/wanderlustgene
- Japanese Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities. (2024). Reasons and Psychology of Travel, The Joy of Traveling. Disability Information Resources. https://www.dinf.ne.jp/doc/japanese/prdl/jsrd/norma/n291/n291002.html
- IMIDA Editorial Department. (2024). Travel Should Be Good for the Brain! 7 Causes of Travel Fatigue. IMIDA Plus. https://imidaplus.com/a-fatigue/2937
- Asahi Shimbun GLOBE Editorial Department. (2024). Research Shows People Feel Happier the More They Move Around “When Going Far…”. Asahi Shimbun GLOBE. https://globe.asahi.com/article/14502555
- Nippon TV. (2024). Learning with Kazu Laser. Restarting the Brain Through Travel. Nippon TV. https://www.ntv.co.jp/kazu/articles/31158l3prkvvq4zuobyt.html
