Children live in a near-constant state of novelty, so this system fires often. Everything is important. Everything is stimulating. As adults, we can activate that same system by giving something (anything!) our full attention. When we do, we signal to our brain, “this matters” , and the result is an experience that feels richer and more memorable.

The brain uses a process called sensory gating to filter out redundant or familiar information so it can conserve energy. It’s brilliant for survival and focus, but it comes at a cost.