![Matthias Gruber](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/2988?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Dr Matthias Gruber
(he/him)
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Teams and roles for Matthias Gruber
Reader (Associate Professor) in Cognitive Neuroscience
Overview
Dr. Matthias Gruber’s research investigates the neural mechanisms of curiosity and motivation, and how these processes influence learning and memory. His work is supported by major funders including the Wellcome Trust, Royal Society, and UKRI. A key focus of his lab is understanding how curiosity affects learning and memory. Recently, as part of an international collaboration, his lab has begun exploring how curiosity-based learning unfolds across development.
Dr. Gruber recently led a Wellcome-funded co-production project with teachers, science communicators from Science Made Simple, and pupils from five primary schools in Cardiff. Together, they explored children’s curiosity by supporting pupils aged 7–10 in designing and presenting their own research projects at Cardiff’s Techniquest Science Centre. This collaborative initiative aimed to better understand the role of curiosity in schools, inspire new research directions, and explore how curiosity-led learning approaches could support the new Curriculum for Wales.
He is also passionate about science communication. He co-authored a children’s article explaining his research on curiosity, delivered a TEDx talk on curiosity-based learning, and his work has been featured in The Guardian, New Scientist, Scientific American, and several science podcasts, such as BBC Radio 4’s All in the Mind, Guardian Science Weekly, and Choose to Be Curious.
Publication
2024
- Cen, D., Teichert, E., Hodgetts, C. J. and Gruber, M. J. 2024. Curiosity shapes spatial exploration and cognitive map formation in humans. Communications Psychology 2, article number: 129. (10.1038/s44271-024-00174-6)
- O'Donoghue, E., Cen, D. and Gruber, M. 2024. Disentangling the influences of curiosity and active exploration on cognitive map formation. [Online]. OSF. Available at: https://osf.io/wg3tm
- Rueterbories, T., Mecklinger, A., Eschmann, K. C. J., Crivelli-Decker, J., Ranganath, C. and Gruber, M. J. 2024. Curiosity satisfaction increases event-related potentials sensitive to reward. The Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 36(5), pp. 888-900. (10.1162/jocn_a_02114)
- Keller, N. E., Salvi, C., Leiker, E. K., Gruber, M. J. and Dunsmoor, J. E. 2024. States of epistemic curiosity interfere with memory for incidental scholastic facts. npj Science of Learning 9(1), article number: 22. (10.1038/s41539-024-00234-w)
- Oosterwijk, S., Noordewier, M. K. and Gruber, M. J. 2024. Are you curious about curiosity?. Frontiers for Young Minds 12, article number: 1182072. (10.3389/frym.2024.1182072)
- Bartlett, S., Sadler, W., Mason, R. and Gruber, M. J. 2024. The Curious Brain: Evaluation report. Project Report. Cardiff: Cardiff University.
2023
- Eschmann, K. C. J., Pereira, D. F. M. M., Valji, A., Dehmelt, V. and Gruber, M. J. 2023. Curiosity and mesolimbic functional connectivity drive information seeking in real life. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience 18(1), article number: nsac050. (10.1093/scan/nsac050)
2021
- Cen, D., Gkoumas, C. and Gruber, M. J. 2021. Anticipation of novel environments enhances memory for incidental information. Learning and Memory 28(8), pp. 254-259.
- Gruber, M. and Fandakova, Y. 2021. Curiosity in childhood and adolescence - what can we learn from the brain. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences 39, pp. 178-184. (10.1016/j.cobeha.2021.03.031)
- Murphy, C., Dehmelt, V., Yonelinas, A. P., Ranganath, C. and Gruber, M. J. 2021. Temporal proximity to the elicitation of curiosity is key for enhancing memory for incidental information. Learning and Memory 28(2), pp. 34-39. (10.1101/lm.052241.120)
- Fandakova, Y. and Gruber, M. 2021. States of curiosity and interest enhance memory differently in adolescents and in children. Developmental Science 24(1), article number: e13005. (10.1111/desc.13005)
2020
- Gruber, M. J. and Ritchey, M. 2020. Episodic memory modulation: How emotion and motivation shape the encoding and storage of salient memories. In: Poeppel, D., Gazzaniga, M. S. and Mangun, G. R. eds. The Cognitive Neurosciences, 6th edition. The MIT Press, pp. 257-264.
2019
- Gruber, M. and Ranganath, C. 2019. How curiosity enhances hippocampus-dependent memory: The Prediction,Appraisal,Curiosity, Exploration (PACE) Framework. Trends in Cognitive Sciences 23(12), pp. 1014-1025. (10.1016/j.tics.2019.10.003)
- Valji, A. et al. 2019. Curious connections: white matter pathways supporting individual differences in epistemic and perceptual curiosity. [Online]. bioRxiv. (10.1101/642165) Available at: https://doi.org/10.1101/642165
- Gruber, M. J. and Ranganath, C. 2019. How curiosity enhances hippocampus-dependent memory. [Online]. OSF Preprints. (10.31219/osf.io/5v6nm) Available at: https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/5v6nm
- Gruber, M. J., Valji, A. and Ranganath, C. 2019. Curiosity and learning: A neuroscientific perspective. In: Renninger, K. A. and Hidi, S. E. eds. The Cambridge Handbook of Motivation and Learning. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 397-417.
- Gruber, M. J., Valji, A. and Ranganath, C. 2019. Curiosity and learning: a neuroscientific perspective. In: Renniger, K. A. and Hidi, S. eds. The Cambridge Handbook of Motivation and Learning. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 397-417.
- Fandakova, Y. and Gruber, M. 2019. Curiosity and surprise enhance memory differently in adolescents than in children. PsyARXiv (10.31234/osf.io/s36e5)
2018
- Gruber, M. J., Hsieh, L., Staresina, B. P., Elger, C. E., Fell, J., Axmacher, N. and Ranganath, C. 2018. Theta phase synchronization between the human hippocampus and prefrontal cortex increases during encoding of unexpected information: A case study. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 30(11), pp. 1646-1656. (10.1162/jocn_a_01302)
- Vogelsang, D. A., Gruber, M., Bergström, Z. M., Ranganath, C. and Simons, J. S. 2018. Alpha oscillations during incidental encoding predict subsequent memory for new 'foil' information. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 30(5), pp. 667-679. (10.1162/jocn_a_01234)
- Stare, C., Gruber, M., Nadel, L., Ranganath, C. and Gomez, R. 2018. Curiosity-driven memory enhancement persists over time but does not benefit from post-learning sleep. Cognitive Neuroscience 9(3-4), pp. 100-115. (10.1080/17588928.2018.1513399)
- Galli, G. et al. 2018. Learning facts during aging: the benefits of curiosity. Experimental Aging Research 44(4), pp. 311-328. (10.1080/0361073X.2018.1477355)
2016
- Gruber, M., Ritchey, M., Wang, S., Doss, M. K. and Ranganath, C. 2016. Post-learning hippocampal dynamics promote preferential retention of rewarding events. Neuron 89(5), pp. 1110-1120. (10.1016/j.neuron.2016.01.017)
2014
- Gruber, M. J., Gelman, B. D. and Ranganath, C. 2014. States of curiosity modulate hippocampus-dependent learning via the dopaminergic circuit. Neuron 84(2), pp. 486-496. (10.1016/j.neuron.2014.08.060)
- Hsieh, L., Gruber, M. J., Jenkins, L. J. and Ranganath, C. 2014. Hippocampal activity patterns carry information about objects in temporal context. Neuron 81(5), pp. 1165-1178. (10.1016/j.neuron.2014.01.015)
2013
- Gruber, M., Watrous, A. J., Ekstrom, A. D., Ranganath, C. and Otten, L. J. 2013. Expected reward modulates encoding-related theta activity before an event. NeuroImage 64, pp. 68-74. (10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.07.064)
2011
- Galli, G., Bauch, E. M. and Gruber, M. 2011. When anticipation aids long-term memory: What cognitive and neural processes are involved?. Journal of Neuroscience 31(12), pp. 4355-4356. (10.1523/JNEUROSCI.6369-10.2011)
2010
- Gruber, M. and Otten, L. J. 2010. Voluntary control over prestimulus activity related to encoding. Journal of Neuroscience 30(29), pp. 9793-9800. (10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0915-10.2010)
Articles
- Cen, D., Teichert, E., Hodgetts, C. J. and Gruber, M. J. 2024. Curiosity shapes spatial exploration and cognitive map formation in humans. Communications Psychology 2, article number: 129. (10.1038/s44271-024-00174-6)
- Rueterbories, T., Mecklinger, A., Eschmann, K. C. J., Crivelli-Decker, J., Ranganath, C. and Gruber, M. J. 2024. Curiosity satisfaction increases event-related potentials sensitive to reward. The Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 36(5), pp. 888-900. (10.1162/jocn_a_02114)
- Keller, N. E., Salvi, C., Leiker, E. K., Gruber, M. J. and Dunsmoor, J. E. 2024. States of epistemic curiosity interfere with memory for incidental scholastic facts. npj Science of Learning 9(1), article number: 22. (10.1038/s41539-024-00234-w)
- Oosterwijk, S., Noordewier, M. K. and Gruber, M. J. 2024. Are you curious about curiosity?. Frontiers for Young Minds 12, article number: 1182072. (10.3389/frym.2024.1182072)
- Eschmann, K. C. J., Pereira, D. F. M. M., Valji, A., Dehmelt, V. and Gruber, M. J. 2023. Curiosity and mesolimbic functional connectivity drive information seeking in real life. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience 18(1), article number: nsac050. (10.1093/scan/nsac050)
- Cen, D., Gkoumas, C. and Gruber, M. J. 2021. Anticipation of novel environments enhances memory for incidental information. Learning and Memory 28(8), pp. 254-259.
- Gruber, M. and Fandakova, Y. 2021. Curiosity in childhood and adolescence - what can we learn from the brain. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences 39, pp. 178-184. (10.1016/j.cobeha.2021.03.031)
- Murphy, C., Dehmelt, V., Yonelinas, A. P., Ranganath, C. and Gruber, M. J. 2021. Temporal proximity to the elicitation of curiosity is key for enhancing memory for incidental information. Learning and Memory 28(2), pp. 34-39. (10.1101/lm.052241.120)
- Fandakova, Y. and Gruber, M. 2021. States of curiosity and interest enhance memory differently in adolescents and in children. Developmental Science 24(1), article number: e13005. (10.1111/desc.13005)
- Gruber, M. and Ranganath, C. 2019. How curiosity enhances hippocampus-dependent memory: The Prediction,Appraisal,Curiosity, Exploration (PACE) Framework. Trends in Cognitive Sciences 23(12), pp. 1014-1025. (10.1016/j.tics.2019.10.003)
- Fandakova, Y. and Gruber, M. 2019. Curiosity and surprise enhance memory differently in adolescents than in children. PsyARXiv (10.31234/osf.io/s36e5)
- Gruber, M. J., Hsieh, L., Staresina, B. P., Elger, C. E., Fell, J., Axmacher, N. and Ranganath, C. 2018. Theta phase synchronization between the human hippocampus and prefrontal cortex increases during encoding of unexpected information: A case study. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 30(11), pp. 1646-1656. (10.1162/jocn_a_01302)
- Vogelsang, D. A., Gruber, M., Bergström, Z. M., Ranganath, C. and Simons, J. S. 2018. Alpha oscillations during incidental encoding predict subsequent memory for new 'foil' information. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 30(5), pp. 667-679. (10.1162/jocn_a_01234)
- Stare, C., Gruber, M., Nadel, L., Ranganath, C. and Gomez, R. 2018. Curiosity-driven memory enhancement persists over time but does not benefit from post-learning sleep. Cognitive Neuroscience 9(3-4), pp. 100-115. (10.1080/17588928.2018.1513399)
- Galli, G. et al. 2018. Learning facts during aging: the benefits of curiosity. Experimental Aging Research 44(4), pp. 311-328. (10.1080/0361073X.2018.1477355)
- Gruber, M., Ritchey, M., Wang, S., Doss, M. K. and Ranganath, C. 2016. Post-learning hippocampal dynamics promote preferential retention of rewarding events. Neuron 89(5), pp. 1110-1120. (10.1016/j.neuron.2016.01.017)
- Gruber, M. J., Gelman, B. D. and Ranganath, C. 2014. States of curiosity modulate hippocampus-dependent learning via the dopaminergic circuit. Neuron 84(2), pp. 486-496. (10.1016/j.neuron.2014.08.060)
- Hsieh, L., Gruber, M. J., Jenkins, L. J. and Ranganath, C. 2014. Hippocampal activity patterns carry information about objects in temporal context. Neuron 81(5), pp. 1165-1178. (10.1016/j.neuron.2014.01.015)
- Gruber, M., Watrous, A. J., Ekstrom, A. D., Ranganath, C. and Otten, L. J. 2013. Expected reward modulates encoding-related theta activity before an event. NeuroImage 64, pp. 68-74. (10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.07.064)
- Galli, G., Bauch, E. M. and Gruber, M. 2011. When anticipation aids long-term memory: What cognitive and neural processes are involved?. Journal of Neuroscience 31(12), pp. 4355-4356. (10.1523/JNEUROSCI.6369-10.2011)
- Gruber, M. and Otten, L. J. 2010. Voluntary control over prestimulus activity related to encoding. Journal of Neuroscience 30(29), pp. 9793-9800. (10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0915-10.2010)
Book sections
- Gruber, M. J. and Ritchey, M. 2020. Episodic memory modulation: How emotion and motivation shape the encoding and storage of salient memories. In: Poeppel, D., Gazzaniga, M. S. and Mangun, G. R. eds. The Cognitive Neurosciences, 6th edition. The MIT Press, pp. 257-264.
- Gruber, M. J., Valji, A. and Ranganath, C. 2019. Curiosity and learning: A neuroscientific perspective. In: Renninger, K. A. and Hidi, S. E. eds. The Cambridge Handbook of Motivation and Learning. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 397-417.
- Gruber, M. J., Valji, A. and Ranganath, C. 2019. Curiosity and learning: a neuroscientific perspective. In: Renniger, K. A. and Hidi, S. eds. The Cambridge Handbook of Motivation and Learning. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 397-417.
Monographs
- Bartlett, S., Sadler, W., Mason, R. and Gruber, M. J. 2024. The Curious Brain: Evaluation report. Project Report. Cardiff: Cardiff University.
Websites
- O'Donoghue, E., Cen, D. and Gruber, M. 2024. Disentangling the influences of curiosity and active exploration on cognitive map formation. [Online]. OSF. Available at: https://osf.io/wg3tm
- Valji, A. et al. 2019. Curious connections: white matter pathways supporting individual differences in epistemic and perceptual curiosity. [Online]. bioRxiv. (10.1101/642165) Available at: https://doi.org/10.1101/642165
- Gruber, M. J. and Ranganath, C. 2019. How curiosity enhances hippocampus-dependent memory. [Online]. OSF Preprints. (10.31219/osf.io/5v6nm) Available at: https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/5v6nm
Research
Dr. Matthias Gruber’s research investigates the neural mechanisms of curiosity and motivation, and how these processes influence learning and memory. His work is supported by major funders including the Wellcome Trust, Royal Society, and UKRI. A key focus of his lab is understanding how curiosity affects learning and memory. Recently, as part of an international collaboration, his lab has begun exploring how curiosity-based learning unfolds across development.
Dr. Gruber recently led a Wellcome-funded co-production project with teachers, science communicators from Science Made Simple, and pupils from five primary schools in Cardiff. Together, they explored children’s curiosity by supporting pupils aged 7–10 in designing and presenting their own research projects at Cardiff’s Techniquest Science Centre. This collaborative initiative aimed to better understand the role of curiosity in schools, inspire new research directions, and explore how curiosity-led learning approaches could support the new Curriculum for Wales.
He is also passionate about science communication. He co-authored a children’s article explaining his research on curiosity, delivered a TEDx talk on curiosity-based learning, and his work has been featured in The Guardian, New Scientist, Scientific American, and several science podcasts, such as BBC Radio 4’s All in the Mind, Guardian Science Weekly, and Choose to Be Curious.
Biography
Honours and awards
Funding and Fellowships
German Research Foundation (DFG) Postdoctoral Fellowship in Prof Charan Ranganath's laboratory at UC Davis, USA. Project title: Learning and consolidation of salient information: The causal role of theta oscillations.
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Postdoctoral Fellowship in Prof Charan Ranganath's laboratory at UC Davis, USA. Project title: Intrinsic motivation and its role in memory consolidation
Honours and Awards
Elected to the Memory Disorders Research Society, 2017.
Laird Cermak Award, Memory Disorders Research Society, 2016.
Finalist at 2016 Award for Excellence in Postdoctoral Research, UC Davis, 2016.
Michael S. Gazzaniga Prize for Cognitive Neuroscience Best Trainee Poster, UC Davis Center for Mind and Brain, 2015.
Selected to speak at TEDxUCDavis, "Beyond the Conversation", 2015.
Supervisions
Internships
We are always looking for interns who can dedicate three to five months to work on a project related to curiosity, motivation and memory.
Positions and PhD studentships available
At the moment, no positions or studentships are advertised. However, please get in touch if you are interested in a trainee position with us (along with your CV and a statement about why you would be a great addition to our team).
Contact Details
+44 29208 70079
Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ
