In The Explorer’s Gene, author and science journalist Alex Hutchinson explores the idea that the urge to explore may be hardwired into our biology. He suggests that there are those among us—perhaps more than we think—who carry an innate drive to go farther, seek novelty, and immerse themselves in the unfamiliar. But this impulse isn’t just poetic—it’s profoundly neurological.
At JetSet Meds, we believe that travel is more than recreation. It’s a prescription for a healthier, sharper, and more expansive mind. And the science backs us up.
Your Brain on Travel
When you step into a place you’ve never been, your brain reacts as if it’s been given a software update. Novel environments activate the hippocampus, the part of the brain associated with memory, learning, spatial navigation, and emotional regulation. It’s the same region that’s under assault in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Research has shown that exposing the hippocampus to new experiences helps generate neurogenesis—the creation of new neurons—and promotes neural plasticity, your brain’s ability to adapt, rewire, and grow.
It’s not just the sights and sounds of travel that matter—it’s the cognitive demands of navigating unfamiliar terrain, interpreting new social cues, decoding foreign languages, and forming novel memories. These are all hippocampus-heavy tasks.
Why Going Somewhere New Matters Most
Returning to your favorite beach or city offers comfort—but going somewhere you’ve never been before? That’s where the real neurological magic happens. Hutchinson suggests that exploration, especially when it leads us off the beaten path, taps into ancient circuits in our brain. This behavior isn’t just beneficial—it may be essential.
It’s no coincidence that long-term travelers often speak of feeling more “awake,” more “connected,” and more “alive.” Their brains are literally being nourished by novelty.
Letting Go of the Algorithm
One of the quiet threats to the cognitive benefits of travel is the growing dependence on smartphones and algorithms to make decisions for us. Google Maps tells us where to go. Yelp tells us what to eat. Tripadvisor tells us what to see. In doing so, our brains—specifically our hippocampi—are robbed of the opportunity to engage, problem-solve, and create a mental map of the unfamiliar world around us.
It’s absolutely wise to use technology for safety, translation, and orientation—but outsourcing every micro-decision to your phone dulls the very edge you came to sharpen. Getting lost (within reason), asking a local for a recommendation, stumbling upon a hidden courtyard café—these moments require the brain to work harder, and in doing so, they create deeper memory encoding and a more meaningful experience.
When we lean into uncertainty rather than algorithmic convenience, we tap into the explorer’s gene. We become participants in our journey rather than passive consumers of it.
The Psychological and Spiritual Impact
New places often force us into presence. Whether it’s watching the sun rise over the Sahara, haggling in a Moroccan souk, or navigating a Tokyo subway, you are pulled into the now. This is where psychological richness lives—an idea that’s been proposed as a third dimension of well-being, beyond happiness and meaning.
Travel also offers a rare spiritual recalibration. Being immersed in unfamiliar cultures challenges the ego, dissolves the illusion of permanence, and invites humility. These are not just poetic byproducts—they’re biologically advantageous states that combat stress, broaden perspective, and foster empathy.
What This Means for You—and for Us as a Species
On a personal level, exploring new places can boost mental health, stave off cognitive decline, and expand your emotional and intellectual toolkit. For our species, the impulse to explore has fueled innovation, culture, science, and survival. Hutchinson’s work implies that the explorer’s gene isn’t just a curiosity—it may be part of the operating system that helped humans spread across the globe.
So whether you’re planning a trek in Patagonia or a weekend in Lisbon, you’re not just going on vacation—you’re activating one of the most powerful evolutionary advantages we have.
At JetSet Meds, we’re here to help you prepare for that journey—body, mind, and spirit. Because the world is out there, and your brain is ready for it.
Travel Well.