Curiosity and surprise differentially affect memory depending on age

State and trait epistemic curiosity can promote various aspects of cognition and behavior. However, possible age-related changes, a link to surprise,and formal education remain understudied. In three behavioralexperiments, with n=54 inexperiment 1, n=81 in experiment 2, and n=196 in experiment 3, we could show that state but not trait epistemic curiositydrives long-term memory for relevant information in young and healthy older adults (experiment 1and 2).This effect was further modulated by surprise in young but less in older adults, which is compatible with predictive coding theories and the notion of a quadratic effect of arousal on cognitionthat vanishes with age(experiment 2). Finally, in a mediation model, state epistemic curiosity could be predicted directly from trait epistemic curiosity and indirectly via formal education (experiment 3). Ourfindings specify how state and trait curiosity, together with surprise, promote learning and facilitate knowledgeacquisition across the adult lifespan.