There may be a link between the desire for travelling and the person's genes, as the excess of dopamine in the brain has been associated with a tendency to engage in impulsive and dangerous behaviors, a study has found.

The dopamine excess has also been connected to a specific variant of the DRD4 gene which has been tied to impulsive actions, such as the urge to travel.

An evolutionary biologist at Indiana University’s Kinsey Institute, Justin Garcia, explained that the DRD4 gene and the consequent extra dopamine may have compelled the prehistoric man to venture into new territories in search of food, companions, and shelter.

The DRD4 gene could be the reason behind the different perspectives that people have towards travelling as some yearn for it while others fear it, Garcia pointed out.

“To a certain extent, assessing risk is just running an algorithm in your head. The different genetic variants mean that algorithm is running at slightly different levels in different people. That’s where all of this comes together: people are running slightly different algorithms that help define whether or not they will take a risk. And, ultimately, over time, that one small difference in the algorithm ends up in very different lives lived,” Garcia stated.