Key Takeaways
- Last year, I stumbled across a number of articles talking about recent findings about the risk gene. Apparently, people who travel a lot are predispos
- I’ve known Kayt for years and she’s one of the best writers I know. She’s someone I look up to and I’m excited to have her write for this website. So,
- When I was in college, an acquaintance, Dave, won a prestigious engineering fellowship. When I congratulated him, he informed me that he was going to
Last year, researchers uncovered compelling links between certain genetic traits and adventurous behavior—including frequent travel. It turns out that people drawn to exploration may carry a specific variant of the DRD4 gene, associated with heightened dopamine response and risk-taking tendencies. Intrigued by this connection, Route for Less invited Kayt—author of *The Art of Risk: The Science of Courage, Caution, and Chance*—to delve into the science behind why some of us feel an irresistible pull toward the unknown.
Kayt is a longtime collaborator and acclaimed writer whose work bridges neuroscience, psychology, and human behavior. Her insights offer a fresh, evidence-based perspective on travel motivation—so let’s step away from destination guides and dive into the biology of curiosity.
When I was in college, an acquaintance named Dave won a prestigious engineering fellowship offering full funding and a year-long research residency in Italy. When I congratulated him, he told me he planned to decline it.
Why would anyone refuse such an opportunity?
“Why would I want to go to Italy?” he replied. “Everything I need is right here in Pittsburgh.”
I was stunned. At 26, Dave had never left Pennsylvania—not once. He felt no longing to see another city, let alone another country. His contentment with familiarity stood in sharp contrast to my own restlessness.
Ten years later, we met again—predictably—in Pittsburgh. As I recounted a recent trip to Colombia—complete with chaotic bus rides and an unexpected live chicken gifted during a home-cooked meal—he grew visibly uneasy. It wasn’t until that moment I realized: to him, *I* was the outlier—the one behaving irrationally.
What drives some people to leave home for distant places while others find deep fulfillment staying close? Is there a biological basis for this divergence?
Emerging research suggests yes—partly rooted in our DNA.
When faced with decisions involving risk—whether choosing a new restaurant, pursuing a relationship, or booking a flight—our brains integrate signals about reward, emotion, stress, memory, and consequence. Central to this process is dopamine: a neurotransmitter often dubbed the “motivation molecule.” Higher dopamine activity in key brain regions correlates with increased novelty-seeking and impulsivity.
One genetic factor influencing dopamine sensitivity is the DRD4 gene—and specifically, its 7R+ allele variant. Carriers of this variant show statistically higher tendencies toward risk-taking across domains: financial speculation, varied romantic partnerships, substance use susceptibility, and even unconventional choices in low-stakes games like bridge.
And yes—travel appears to be among those domains.
Dr. Justin Garcia, evolutionary biologist at Indiana University’s Kinsey Institute, explains that the 7R+ variant likely conferred survival advantages during early human migrations out of Africa. Enhanced dopamine-driven curiosity may have encouraged movement, resource scouting, and social expansion—critical behaviors for thriving in unfamiliar environments.
To venture outward. To seek new terrain. To explore.
Could a single genetic variation help explain why one person books a one-way ticket to Southeast Asia while another feels profound discomfort at the thought of crossing state lines?
While genes don’t operate in isolation—environment, upbringing, and culture all shape expression—Garcia’s research indicates DRD4 plays a measurable role in how individuals weigh uncertainty versus reward. In essence, it may predispose some to view travel not as danger, but as invitation.
