We often confuse these lowered energy states with being tired or sick. These low energy states can further interfere with performance. Cognitive overstimulation or cognitive understimulation was the underlying cause for her negative big three outcomes of negative emotions, low learning, and low performance. Many have attempted to answer that question. I agree with Maslow's idea about the progression of needs to some extent, but think that there is a more basic human motive.
Growth is our strongest motivator .
After all, the brain is primarily a giant information processor. Estimates are that we have between 10 and 100 billion neurons with perhaps 20 quadrillion connections. Each of these connections is a potential storage unit of knowledge, and each cell is striving to be active and learn. Clearly, there is evolutionary value to intelligence that gives humans advantages. Social evolutionary value also gives individuals, groups, and nations with greater knowledge advantages over those with less knowledge.