How does state-dependent learning affect skill-building? Imagine this. You take a well-regarded communications course and learn the skills of curiosity, empathy, and self-expression. You come home and use the skills with your partner, which they love. Until…things go wrong. You’ve been practicing...

  There was a time, not so long ago, when curiosity felt like an impossible skill for me. I would sit in a conversation, racking my brain for anything I could say. The only options were to talk about myself - which felt awkward unless they’d asked - say a non sequitur, or come up with a question...