Psychiatry and Psychology

Exploratory Behavior

The tendency to explore or investigate a novel environment. It is considered a motivation not clearly distinguishable from curiosity.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

The tendency to explore or investigate a novel environment. It is considered a motivation not clearly distinguishable from curiosity.

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

Knowledge Graph

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

10 entry terms
  • Behavior, Exploratory
  • Behaviors, Exploratory
  • Exploratory Behaviors
  • Curiosity
  • Novelty-Seeking Behavior
  • Behavior, Novelty-Seeking
  • Behaviors, Novelty-Seeking
  • Curiosities
  • Novelty Seeking Behavior
  • Novelty-Seeking Behaviors

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

5 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings classification, drug effects, ethics, physiology, radiation effects.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

human & animal

MeSH Record

History Note

68; was BEHAVIOR, EXPLORATORY 1965-67; CURIOSITY was see under EXPLORATORY BEHAVIOR 1969-78

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. F01.145.387
  2. F01.658w.370

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Exploratory Behavior. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D005106. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D005106
  2. Exploratory Behavior. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q14912968