1. Trivia—Your Brain on Questions
As it turns out, there are some biological reasons behind the rush of excitement I felt when I got the Cape Canaveral question right. According to psychologist John Kounios, answering a trivia question correctly triggers a release of dopamine in the brain that gives the person answering a sense of pleasure. Beyond that short-term benefit, collecting and deploying information can exercise the brain as we age, supporting healthy neurological function. Trivia is like taking your brain to the gym, and the best part is you won’t even need a shower afterwards.
2. Take a Screen Break
Speaking of neurological health, hitting up a trivia night has some peripheral benefits as well. Last summer, I read Deep Work by the computer scientist Cal Newport, and it really turned my head around. I highly encourage everyone to check it out, because Newport’s writing is funny and readable and his thesis is vitally important.
Newport argues that the most important trait to develop in our increasingly distracted world is the ability to focus deeply on one task at a time. Smart devices and social media, while fun, can have the unintended effect of rewiring our brains to crave constant stimulation. This state of hyper-stimulation has the unintended effect of making it difficult to focus for long periods of time. Trivia, however, provides a built-in break from screen time. Because we’re in the business of quizzing and not Googling, we don’t allow you to use your phones while you’re playing the game. The result is that you get a break from the hyper-connected world we live in. And I bet you won’t even miss it!
3. Getting Together
When I was in undergrad school, my friends and I went to at least two trivia nights per week. Not only did we use our winnings to subsidize our meager undergrad student wages, but it also gave us the opportunity to catch up with one another amidst our crazily packed schedules. Team trivia is an inherently social activity. At the same time you’re answering the questions, you’re reconnecting with people, or maybe making new friends. Plus, the quiz questions provide all sorts of interesting fodder. You might even find out that one of your friends is an expert in some obscure subject that you’d never heard about before. As far as social experiences go, trivia is hard to beat.
I’ve been a devoted trivia-head since I was a kid. Only recently have I started to contemplate why I get so much pleasure out of answering questions. Here at Midwest Pub Trivia, we love being able to bring that joy to trivia enthusiasts around the Midwest. Whether it’s a standing quiz night, a private event, or a fundraiser, you’d be hard-pressed to find an activity as rewarding as doing trivia.
