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Parvizi-Wayne D, Sandved-Smith L, Pitliya RJ, Limanowski J, Tufft MRA, Friston KJ. Forgetting ourselves in flow: an active inference account of flow states and how we experience ourselves within them. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1354719. [PMID: 38887627 PMCID: PMC11182004 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1354719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Flow has been described as a state of optimal performance, experienced universally across a broad range of domains: from art to athletics, gaming to writing. However, its phenomenal characteristics can, at first glance, be puzzling. Firstly, individuals in flow supposedly report a loss of self-awareness, even though they perform in a manner which seems to evince their agency and skill. Secondly, flow states are felt to be effortless, despite the prerequisite complexity of the tasks that engender them. In this paper, we unpick these features of flow, as well as others, through the active inference framework, which posits that action and perception are forms of active Bayesian inference directed at sustained self-organisation; i.e., the minimisation of variational free energy. We propose that the phenomenology of flow is rooted in the deployment of high precision weight over (i) the expected sensory consequences of action and (ii) beliefs about how action will sequentially unfold. This computational mechanism thus draws the embodied cognitive system to minimise the ensuing (i.e., expected) free energy through the exploitation of the pragmatic affordances at hand. Furthermore, given the challenging dynamics the flow-inducing situation presents, attention must be wholly focussed on the unfolding task whilst counterfactual planning is restricted, leading to the attested loss of the sense of self-as-object. This involves the inhibition of both the sense of self as a temporally extended object and higher-order, meta-cognitive forms of self-conceptualisation. Nevertheless, we stress that self-awareness is not entirely lost in flow. Rather, it is pre-reflective and bodily. Our approach to bodily-action-centred phenomenology can be applied to similar facets of seemingly agentive experience beyond canonical flow states, providing insights into the mechanisms of so-called selfless experiences, embodied expertise and wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darius Parvizi-Wayne
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lars Sandved-Smith
- Monash Centre for Consciousness and Contemplative Studies, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Riddhi J. Pitliya
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- VERSES AI Research Lab, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Jakub Limanowski
- Institute of Psychology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Miles R. A. Tufft
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Karl J. Friston
- VERSES AI Research Lab, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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Prajod P, Lavit Nicora M, Mondellini M, Falerni MM, Vertechy R, Malosio M, André E. Flow in human-robot collaboration-multimodal analysis and perceived challenge detection in industrial scenarios. Front Robot AI 2024; 11:1393795. [PMID: 38873120 PMCID: PMC11169730 DOI: 10.3389/frobt.2024.1393795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Flow state, the optimal experience resulting from the equilibrium between perceived challenge and skill level, has been extensively studied in various domains. However, its occurrence in industrial settings has remained relatively unexplored. Notably, the literature predominantly focuses on Flow within mentally demanding tasks, which differ significantly from industrial tasks. Consequently, our understanding of emotional and physiological responses to varying challenge levels, specifically in the context of industry-like tasks, remains limited. Methods: To bridge this gap, we investigate how facial emotion estimation (valence, arousal) and Heart Rate Variability (HRV) features vary with the perceived challenge levels during industrial assembly tasks. Our study involves an assembly scenario that simulates an industrial human-robot collaboration task with three distinct challenge levels. As part of our study, we collected video, electrocardiogram (ECG), and NASA-TLX questionnaire data from 37 participants. Results: Our results demonstrate a significant difference in mean arousal and heart rate between the low-challenge (Boredom) condition and the other conditions. We also found a noticeable trend-level difference in mean heart rate between the adaptive (Flow) and high-challenge (Anxiety) conditions. Similar differences were also observed in a few other temporal HRV features like Mean NN and Triangular index. Considering the characteristics of typical industrial assembly tasks, we aim to facilitate Flow by detecting and balancing the perceived challenge levels. Leveraging our analysis results, we developed an HRV-based machine learning model for discerning perceived challenge levels, distinguishing between low and higher-challenge conditions. Discussion: This work deepens our understanding of emotional and physiological responses to perceived challenge levels in industrial contexts and provides valuable insights for the design of adaptive work environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja Prajod
- Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Matteo Lavit Nicora
- Institute of Intelligent Industrial Technologies and Systems for Advanced Manufacturing, National Research Council of Italy, Lecco, Italy
- Industrial Engineering Department, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marta Mondellini
- Institute of Intelligent Industrial Technologies and Systems for Advanced Manufacturing, National Research Council of Italy, Lecco, Italy
- Psychology Department, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Meregalli Falerni
- Institute of Intelligent Industrial Technologies and Systems for Advanced Manufacturing, National Research Council of Italy, Lecco, Italy
| | - Rocco Vertechy
- Industrial Engineering Department, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Matteo Malosio
- Institute of Intelligent Industrial Technologies and Systems for Advanced Manufacturing, National Research Council of Italy, Lecco, Italy
| | - Elisabeth André
- Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
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Reich N, Mannino M, Kotler S. Using caffeine as a chemical means to induce flow states. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 159:105577. [PMID: 38331128 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Flow is an intrinsically rewarding state characterised by positive affect and total task absorption. Because cognitive and physical performance are optimal in flow, chemical means to facilitate this state are appealing. Caffeine, a non-selective adenosine receptor antagonist, has been emphasized as a potential flow-inducer. Thus, we review the psychological and biological effects of caffeine that, conceptually, enhance flow. Caffeine may facilitate flow through various effects, including: i) upregulation of dopamine D1/D2 receptor affinity in reward-associated brain areas, leading to greater energetic arousal and 'wanting'; ii) protection of dopaminergic neurons; iii) increases in norepinephrine release and alertness, which offset sleep-deprivation and hypoarousal; iv) heightening of parasympathetic high frequency heart rate variability, resulting in improved cortical stress appraisal, v) modification of striatal endocannabinoid-CB1 receptor-signalling, leading to enhanced stress tolerance; and vi) changes in brain network activity in favour of executive function and flow. We also discuss the application of caffeine to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and caveats. We hope to inspire studies assessing the use of caffeine to induce flow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niklas Reich
- Faculty of Health and Medicine, Biomedical & Life Sciences Division, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK; The ALBORADA Drug Discovery Institute, University of Cambridge, Island Research Building, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0AH, UK.
| | - Michael Mannino
- Flow Research Collective, USA; Miami Dade College, Miami, FL, USA
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Irshad MT, Li F, Nisar MA, Huang X, Buss M, Kloep L, Peifer C, Kozusznik B, Pollak A, Pyszka A, Flak O, Grzegorzek M. Wearable-based human flow experience recognition enhanced by transfer learning methods using emotion data. Comput Biol Med 2023; 166:107489. [PMID: 37769461 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2023.107489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Flow experience is a specific positive and affective state that occurs when humans are completely absorbed in an activity and forget everything else. This state can lead to high performance, well-being, and productivity at work. Few studies have been conducted to determine the human flow experience using physiological wearable sensor devices. Other studies rely on self-reported data. METHODS In this article, we use physiological data collected from 25 subjects with multimodal sensing devices, in particular the Empatica E4 wristband, the Emotiv Epoc X electroencephalography (EEG) headset, and the Biosignalplux RespiBAN - in arithmetic and reading tasks to automatically discriminate between flow and non-flow states using feature engineering and deep feature learning approaches. The most meaningful wearable device for flow detection is determined by comparing the performances of each device. We also investigate the connection between emotions and flow by testing transfer learning techniques involving an emotion recognition-related task on the source domain. RESULTS The EEG sensor modalities yielded the best performances with an accuracy of 64.97%, and a macro Averaged F1 (AF1) score of 64.95%. An accuracy of 73.63% and an AF1 score of 72.70% were obtained after fusing all sensor modalities from all devices. Additionally, our proposed transfer learning approach using emotional arousal classification on the DEAP dataset led to an increase in performances with an accuracy of 75.10% and an AF1 score of 74.92%. CONCLUSION The results of this study suggest that effective discrimination between flow and non-flow states is possible with multimodal sensor data. The success of transfer learning using the DEAP emotion dataset as a source domain indicates that emotions and flow are connected, and emotion recognition can be used as a latent task to enhance the performance of flow recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Frédéric Li
- Institute of Medical Informatics, University of Lübeck, Germany.
| | | | - Xinyu Huang
- Institute of Medical Informatics, University of Lübeck, Germany.
| | - Martje Buss
- Department of Psychology, University of Lübeck, Germany.
| | - Leonie Kloep
- Department of Psychology, University of Lübeck, Germany.
| | - Corinna Peifer
- Department of Psychology, University of Lübeck, Germany.
| | - Barbara Kozusznik
- Department of Social Science, Institute of Psychology, University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland.
| | - Anita Pollak
- Department of Social Science, Institute of Psychology, University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland.
| | - Adrian Pyszka
- Department of Human Resource Management, College of Management, University of Economics in Katowice, Poland.
| | - Olaf Flak
- Department of Management, Jan Kochanowski University of Kielce, Poland.
| | - Marcin Grzegorzek
- Institute of Medical Informatics, University of Lübeck, Germany; Department of Knowledge Engineering, University of Economics in Katowice, Poland.
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Joessel F, Pichon S, Bavelier D. A video-game-based method to induce states of high and low flow. Behav Res Methods 2023:10.3758/s13428-023-02251-w. [PMID: 37864115 DOI: 10.3758/s13428-023-02251-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Flow has been defined as a state of full immersion that may emerge when the skills of a person match the challenge of an activity. It is a special case of being on task, as during flow, keeping focused on the task feels effortless. Most experimental investigations of the neural or physiological correlates of flow contrast conditions with different levels of challenge. Yet comparing different levels of challenge that are too distant may trigger states where the participant is off task, such as boredom or frustration. Thus, it remains unclear whether previously observed differences ascribed to flow may rather reflect differences in how much participants were on task-trying their best-across the contrasted conditions. To remedy this, we introduce a method to manipulate flow by contrasting two video game play conditions at personalized levels of difficulty calibrated such that participants similarly tried their best in both conditions. Across three experiments (> 90 participants), higher flow was robustly reported in our high-flow than in our low-flow condition (mean effect size d = 1.31). Cardiac, respiratory, and skin conductance measures confirmed the known difference between a period of rest and the two on-task conditions of high and low flow, but failed to distinguish between these latter two. In light of the conflicting findings regarding the physiological correlates of flow, we discuss the importance of ensuring a low-flow baseline condition that maintains participants on task, and propose that the present method provides a methodological advance toward that goal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Freya Joessel
- Faculté de Psychologie et Sciences de L'Education, (FPSE), Université de Genève, Boulevard du Pont d'Arve, 40, 1205, Geneva, Switzerland
- Campus Biotech, Chemin des Mines, 9, 1202, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Swann Pichon
- Faculté de Psychologie et Sciences de L'Education, (FPSE), Université de Genève, Boulevard du Pont d'Arve, 40, 1205, Geneva, Switzerland
- Campus Biotech, Chemin des Mines, 9, 1202, Geneva, Switzerland
- Geneva School of Health Sciences, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Daphne Bavelier
- Faculté de Psychologie et Sciences de L'Education, (FPSE), Université de Genève, Boulevard du Pont d'Arve, 40, 1205, Geneva, Switzerland.
- Campus Biotech, Chemin des Mines, 9, 1202, Geneva, Switzerland.
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Lemmens JS, von Münchhausen CF. Let the beat flow: How game difficulty in virtual reality affects flow. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2023; 232:103812. [PMID: 36566612 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2022.103812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Virtual Reality Games offer highly immersive experiences that allow users to effectively dissociate themselves from reality. VR gaming leads to a strong sense of presence and can facilitate the experience of flow among its players. The current study examines how the balance between a player's skill and the difficulty of a VR rhythm game can influence the sense of flow. An experiment was conducted among 201 university students who played the rhythm game Beat Saber in VR. Difficulty settings were adjusted to each individual player's skill, making the game either too easy, matched, or too hard. Results indicated that the match between skill and difficulty led to higher levels of flow. If the game was too hard, this caused a decrease in flow due to frustration, but too easy did not lead to the expected decrease in flow due to boredom. A stronger sense of flow while playing this VR game was also related to better performance, higher physiological arousal, and more enjoyment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen S Lemmens
- Amsterdam School of Communication Research, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands.
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Jiang C, Chen W, Tao L, Wang J, Cheng K, Zhang Y, Qi Z, Zheng X. Game-matching background music has an add-on effect for reducing emotionality of traumatic memories during reconsolidation intervention. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1090290. [PMID: 36873205 PMCID: PMC9974640 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1090290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Hospital is a stressful place of employment, and a high proportion of healthcare workers, especially the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) nurses were found to be at risk of PTSD. Previous studies showed that taxing working memory through visuospatial tasks during the reconsolidation process of aversive memories can reduce the number of intrusions afterwards. However, the finds could not be replicated by some researches, indicating there may be some boundary conditions that are subtle and complex. METHODS We performed a randomized controlled trial (ChiCTR2200055921; URL: www.chictr.org.cn). In our study, a series of ICU nurses or probationers who performed a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) were enrolled and instructed to play a visuospatial music tapping game ("Ceaseless Music Note", CMN; Beijing Muyuan Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing, China) at the fourth day after CPR. The numbers of intrusions each day were recorded from the first to the seventh days (24 h×6 day), and the vividness and emotionality of CPR memories were rated at the 4th and 7th days. These parameters were compared between different groups (game with background sound; game with sound off; sound only; none). RESULTS The game-matching background music can have an add-on effect for single tapping game with no sound in reducing the emotionality of previous aversive memories. DISCUSSION We proposed that flow experience (the subjective experience of effortless attention, reduced self-awareness, and enjoyment, and may be induced by optimal skill-demands compatibility in challenging tasks) as a key boundary condition for successful reconsolidation intervention. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION www.chictr.org.cn, identifier: ChiCTR2200055921.
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Affiliation(s)
- Che Jiang
- School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Southern Theatre Command, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wei Chen
- School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ling Tao
- Computer Engineering Technical College, Guangdong Polytechnic of Science and Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiajia Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Southern Theatre Command, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kuihong Cheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Southern Theatre Command, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yibo Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Southern Theatre Command, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zijuan Qi
- Department of Neurology, General Hospital of Southern Theatre Command, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xifu Zheng
- School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
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Two-dimensional and three-dimensional multiple object tracking learning performance in adolescent female soccer players: The role of flow experience reflected by heart rate variability. Physiol Behav 2023; 258:114009. [PMID: 36326537 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2022.114009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Three-dimensional multiple object tracking (3D-MOT) has been used in various fields to mimic real-life tracking, especially in perceptual-cognitive skills training for soccer. Yet, the learning efficiency in 3D-MOT tasks has not been compared with 2D-MOT. Further, whether the advantage can be reflected by heart rate variability (HRV) based on the neurovisceral integration model should also be examined. Therefore, we used both 2D- and 3D-MOT in a brief adaptive task procedure for adolescent female soccer players with HRV measurement. A faster tracking speed threshold of participants was found in the 3D- compared to 2D-MOT, as well as average tracking speed in the last training period of 3D-MOT. Moreover, lower low frequency (LF) components of HRV in the 3D-MOT indicated a flow experience, demonstrating the provision of more attentional resources. Therefore, we observed that adolescent female soccer players demonstrated higher learning efficiency in 3D-MOT tasks in virtual reality (VR) through a higher flow experience. This study examined the learning efficiency between the two MOT tasks in the soccer domain using evidence from HRV and highlighted the utility and applicability of 3D-MOT application.
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Snijdewint JA, Scheepers D. Group‐based flow: The influence of cardiovascular synchronization and identifiability. Psychophysiology 2022; 60:e14227. [PMID: 36458474 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Previous work has demonstrated the role of group-based flow in group performance and experience, but the physiological correlates of these relations are largely unknown. We examined the relation between cardiovascular synchronization, self-reported flow, and performance in a three-person online gaming task. We included measures of Heart Rate (HR), Pre-Ejection Period (PEP), and Cardiac Output (CO) as indices of task engagement and challenge (vs. threat) motivation. Group members were identifiable (i.e., visible) or anonymous during the game. Results indicated that PEP (as a marker of task engagement) and within-group synchronization in PEP, predicted flow, and that synchronization in PEP mediated the relation between group performance and experienced flow. The anonymity vs. identifiability of group members did not play a role in these effects. Results are discussed in terms of implications for flow theory, group dynamics, and physiological synchrony.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce A. Snijdewint
- Social, Economic, and Organizational Psychology Leiden University Leiden the Netherlands
| | - Daan Scheepers
- Social, Economic, and Organizational Psychology Leiden University Leiden the Netherlands
- Organizational Behavior Group Utrecht University Utrecht the Netherlands
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Scheepers D, Keller J. On the physiology of flow: Bridging flow theory with the biopsychosocial model of challenge and threat. Int J Psychophysiol 2022; 182:119-128. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2022.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Hackert B, Lumma A, Raettig T, Berger B, Weger U. Towards a re‐conceptualization of flow in social contexts. JOURNAL FOR THE THEORY OF SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/jtsb.12362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Hackert
- Department of Psychology and Psychotherapy Witten/Herdecke University Witten Germany
| | - Anna‐Lena Lumma
- Department of Psychology and Psychotherapy Witten/Herdecke University Witten Germany
| | - Tim Raettig
- Institute of Psychology III – Psychological Methods, Cognition and Application University of Würzburg Würzburg Germany
| | - Bettina Berger
- Chair of Medical Theory, Integrative and Anthroposophic Medicine Department of Health Witten/Herdecke University Herdecke Germany
| | - Ulrich Weger
- Department of Psychology and Psychotherapy Witten/Herdecke University Witten Germany
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Alameda C, Sanabria D, Ciria LF. The brain in flow: A systematic review on the neural basis of the flow state. Cortex 2022; 154:348-364. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2022.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Khoshnoud S, Alvarez Igarzábal F, Wittmann M. Brain–Heart Interaction and the Experience of Flow While Playing a Video Game. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:819834. [PMID: 35572002 PMCID: PMC9096496 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.819834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The flow state – an experience of complete absorption in an activity – is linked with less self-referential processing and increased arousal. We used the heart-evoked potential (HEP), an index representing brain–heart interaction, as well as indices of peripheral physiology to assess the state of flow in individuals playing a video game. 22 gamers and 21 non-gamers played the video game Thumper for 25 min while their brain and cardiorespiratory signals were simultaneously recorded. The more participants were absorbed in the game, the less they thought about time and the faster time passed subjectively. On the cortical level, the fronto-central HEP amplitude was significantly lower while playing the game compared to resting states before and after the game, reflecting less self-referential processing while playing. This HEP effect corresponded with lower activity during gameplay in brain regions contributing to interoceptive processing. The HEP amplitude predicted the level of absorption in the game. While the HEP amplitude was overall lower during the gaming session than during the resting states, within the gaming session the amplitude of HEP was positively associated with absorption. Since higher absorption was related to higher performance in the game, the higher HEP in more absorbed individuals reflects more efficient brain–heart interaction, which is necessary for efficient game play. On the physiological level, a higher level of flow was associated with increased overall sympathetic activity and less inhibited parasympathetic activity toward the end of the game. These results are building blocks for future neurophysiological assessments of flow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiva Khoshnoud
- Institute for Frontier Areas of Psychology and Mental Health, Freiburg, Germany
- Department of Neurosurgery and Neurotechnology, Institute for Neuromodulation and Neurotechnology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- *Correspondence: Shiva Khoshnoud,
| | | | - Marc Wittmann
- Institute for Frontier Areas of Psychology and Mental Health, Freiburg, Germany
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Peifer C, Wolters G, Harmat L, Heutte J, Tan J, Freire T, Tavares D, Fonte C, Andersen FO, van den Hout J, Šimleša M, Pola L, Ceja L, Triberti S. A Scoping Review of Flow Research. Front Psychol 2022; 13:815665. [PMID: 35465560 PMCID: PMC9022035 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.815665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Flow is a gratifying state of deep involvement and absorption that individuals report when facing a challenging activity and they perceive adequate abilities to cope with it (EFRN, 2014). The flow concept was introduced by Csikszentmihalyi in 1975, and interest in flow research is growing. However, to our best knowledge, no scoping review exists that takes a systematic look at studies on flow which were published between the years 2000 and 2016. Overall, 252 studies have been included in this review. Our review (1) provides a framework to cluster flow research, (2) gives a systematic overview about existing studies and their findings, and (3) provides an overview about implications for future research. The provided framework consists of three levels of flow research. In the first “Individual” level are the categories for personality, motivation, physiology, emotion, cognition, and behavior. The second “Contextual” level contains the categories for contextual and interindividual factors and the third “Cultural” level contains cultural factors that relate to flow. Using our framework, we systematically present the findings for each category. While flow research has made progress in understanding flow, in the future, more experimental and longitudinal studies are needed to gain deeper insights into the causal structure of flow and its antecedents and consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corinna Peifer
- Department of Psychology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Gina Wolters
- Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - László Harmat
- Department of Psychology, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden
| | - Jean Heutte
- ULR 4354 - CIREL - Centre Interuniversitaire de Recherche en Education de Lille, Université de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Jasmine Tan
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Teresa Freire
- School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | | | - Carla Fonte
- Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, University Fernando Pessoa, Porto, Portugal
| | | | - Jef van den Hout
- Industrial Engineering and Innovation Sciences, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - Milija Šimleša
- Institute of Psychology Henri Pieron, Université Paris 5 René Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Linda Pola
- Department of Cultural Heritage and Environment, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Lucia Ceja
- IESE Business School, University of Navarra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Stefano Triberti
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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16
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Zhao H, Khan A. The Students' Flow Experience With the Continuous Intention of Using Online English Platforms. Front Psychol 2022; 12:807084. [PMID: 35211057 PMCID: PMC8862747 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.807084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Built on the integrated theoretical framework of antecedents of flow and expectation confirmation model (ECM), this research investigates the way flow experience drives the online students' intention to engage in online English teaching platforms. This study focused on the online students engaged in online English learning platforms in Taiwan. A total of 500 online students were selected. An online survey was conducted with the help of a marketing research agency located in Taiwan. According to the results, the online students' flow experience was found to be in a significant relationship with continuous intention. The antecedents, including perceived enjoyment, challenge, and situational involvement, were found to be in a positive relationship with flow experience; however, confirmation and perceived vividness did not have significant effects on the flow. Furthermore, flow and confirmation were found to be in a significant relationship with perceived usefulness and satisfaction. Moreover, perceived usefulness was found to be in a significant relationship with satisfaction and continuous intention. Lastly, satisfaction was found to be in a significant relationship with continuous intention. Finally, the questions proposed in this research with their empirical findings offer profound understanding for establishing a well-devised online English learning platform that can motivate online learning. These results and managerial implications for online English language platforms are innovative and significant in practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Zhao
- International College of Cultural Education, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Asif Khan
- Department of Marketing and Distribution Management, College of Management, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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17
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Fairclough SH, Dobbins C, Stamp K. Classification of Game Demand and the Presence of Experimental Pain Using Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy. FRONTIERS IN NEUROERGONOMICS 2021; 2:695309. [PMID: 38235227 PMCID: PMC10790923 DOI: 10.3389/fnrgo.2021.695309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Pain tolerance can be increased by the introduction of an active distraction, such as a computer game. This effect has been found to be moderated by game demand, i.e., increased game demand = higher pain tolerance. A study was performed to classify the level of game demand and the presence of pain using implicit measures from functional Near-InfraRed Spectroscopy (fNIRS) and heart rate features from an electrocardiogram (ECG). Twenty participants played a racing game that was configured to induce low (Easy) or high (Hard) levels of demand. Both Easy and Hard levels of game demand were played with or without the presence of experimental pain using the cold pressor test protocol. Eight channels of fNIRS data were recorded from a montage of frontal and central-parietal sites located on the midline. Features were generated from these data, a subset of which were selected for classification using the RELIEFF method. Classifiers for game demand (Easy vs. Hard) and pain (pain vs. no-pain) were developed using five methods: Support Vector Machine (SVM), k-Nearest Neighbour (kNN), Naive Bayes (NB) and Random Forest (RF). These models were validated using a ten fold cross-validation procedure. The SVM approach using features derived from fNIRS was the only method that classified game demand at higher than chance levels (accuracy = 0.66, F1 = 0.68). It was not possible to classify pain vs. no-pain at higher than chance level. The results demonstrate the viability of utilising fNIRS data to classify levels of game demand and the difficulty of classifying pain when another task is present.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chelsea Dobbins
- School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Kellyann Stamp
- School of Computer Science and Mathematics, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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18
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Wu J, Li H, Wu Y. Trait and State: Interoceptive Accuracy during Anticipation of Public Speaking in Junior Secondary Shy Students from an Eastern Province of China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18094951. [PMID: 34066558 PMCID: PMC8124417 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18094951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the interoceptive accuracy (IAc) of shy adolescents during anticipation of public speaking with a 2 × 2 factorial design. Altogether, 637 junior secondary students in an eastern province of China were sampled and screened with the Chinese version of Cheek and Buss shyness scale. The top 27% of students were considered the shy group (n = 30, 16 girls, Mage = 13.03, SD = 0.67), whereas the bottom 27% were labelled the non-shy group (n = 31, 16 girls, Mage = 13.16, SD = 0.86). The two groups of participants estimated their heart rates during specified intervals using a mental tracking paradigm in two conditions (baseline vs. anticipation), while their actual heart rates were simultaneously measured. The results indicated that: (1) the shy adolescents were more accurate in estimating their actual heart rate than non-shy adolescents; and (2) both shy and non-shy adolescents exhibit enhanced IAc in anticipation conditions when compared with baseline conditions. Implications of the higher IAc of shy adolescents and the state feature of IAc are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianfen Wu
- School of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
- Correspondence:
| | - Hui Li
- School of Education, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia;
| | - Yunpeng Wu
- School of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Ji’nan 250014, China;
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19
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Gold J, Ciorciari J. A neurocognitive model of flow states and the role of cerebellar internal models. Behav Brain Res 2021; 407:113244. [PMID: 33744335 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
This paper conceptualizes a comprehensive body of neurocognitive knowledge of flow states based on two primary competing neurocognitive theories underpinning flow's purported functioning, the transient hypofrontality hypothesis and the network synchronization model. With these models in mind, a new neurocognitive model of flow is synthesized based on the similarities of these pre-existing theories and utilizing the internal models of the cerebellum to elucidate the differences and crossover in the current flow research. Ultimately, this paper works to provide a platform for researchers to use as a future reference and for hypothesis generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Gold
- Centre for Mental Health, Swinburne Neuroimaging (SNI), Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia.
| | - Joseph Ciorciari
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia
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20
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Alexander R, Aragón OR, Bookwala J, Cherbuin N, Gatt JM, Kahrilas IJ, Kästner N, Lawrence A, Lowe L, Morrison RG, Mueller SC, Nusslock R, Papadelis C, Polnaszek KL, Helene Richter S, Silton RL, Styliadis C. The neuroscience of positive emotions and affect: Implications for cultivating happiness and wellbeing. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 121:220-249. [PMID: 33307046 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2019] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
This review paper provides an integrative account regarding neurophysiological correlates of positive emotions and affect that cumulatively contribute to the scaffolding for happiness and wellbeing in humans and other animals. This paper reviews the associations among neurotransmitters, hormones, brain networks, and cognitive functions in the context of positive emotions and affect. Consideration of lifespan developmental perspectives are incorporated, and we also examine the impact of healthy social relationships and environmental contexts on the modulation of positive emotions and affect. The neurophysiological processes that implement positive emotions are dynamic and modifiable, and meditative practices as well as flow states that change patterns of brain function and ultimately support wellbeing are also discussed. This review is part of "The Human Affectome Project" (http://neuroqualia.org/background.php), and in order to advance a primary aim of the Human Affectome Project, we also reviewed relevant linguistic dimensions and terminology that characterizes positive emotions and wellbeing. These linguistic dimensions are discussed within the context of the neuroscience literature with the overarching goal of generating novel recommendations for advancing neuroscience research on positive emotions and wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Alexander
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, Sydney, NSW, 2031, Australia; Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Oriana R Aragón
- Yale University, 2 Hillhouse Ave, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA; Clemson University, 252 Sirrine Hall, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA
| | - Jamila Bookwala
- Department of Psychology and Program in Aging Studies, Lafayette College, 730 High Road, Easton, PA, USA
| | - Nicolas Cherbuin
- Centre for Research on Ageing, Health, and Wellbeing, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Justine M Gatt
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, Sydney, NSW, 2031, Australia; School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Randwick, Sydney, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | - Ian J Kahrilas
- Department of Psychology, Loyola University Chicago, 1032 W. Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL, 60660, USA
| | - Niklas Kästner
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Badestraße 13, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Alistair Lawrence
- Scotland's Rural College, King's Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, United Kingdom; The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, EH25 9RG, United Kingdom
| | - Leroy Lowe
- Neuroqualia (NGO), Truro, NS, B2N 1X5, Canada
| | - Robert G Morrison
- Department of Psychology, Loyola University Chicago, 1032 W. Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL, 60660, USA
| | - Sven C Mueller
- Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Personality, Psychological Assessment and Treatment, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Robin Nusslock
- Department of Psychology and Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University, 2029 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Christos Papadelis
- Jane and John Justin Neurosciences Center, Cook Children's Health Care System, 1500 Cooper St, Fort Worth, TX, 76104, USA; Laboratory of Children's Brain Dynamics, Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kelly L Polnaszek
- Department of Psychology, Loyola University Chicago, 1032 W. Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL, 60660, USA
| | - S Helene Richter
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Badestraße 13, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Rebecca L Silton
- Department of Psychology, Loyola University Chicago, 1032 W. Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL, 60660, USA; Institute for Innovations in Developmental Sciences, Northwestern University, 633 N. Saint Clair, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
| | - Charis Styliadis
- Neuroscience of Cognition and Affection group, Lab of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 54124, Greece
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21
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van der Linden D, Tops M, Bakker AB. Go with the flow: A neuroscientific view on being fully engaged. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 53:947-963. [PMID: 33084102 PMCID: PMC7983950 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Flow is a state of full task absorption, accompanied with a strong drive and low levels of self-referential thinking. Flow is likely when there is a match between a person's skills and the task challenge. Despite its relevance for human performance and the vast body of research on flow, there is currently still relatively little insight in its underlying neurocognitive mechanisms. In this paper, we discuss a set of large brain networks that may be involved in establishing the core dimensions of flow. We propose that dopaminergic and noradrenergic systems mediate the intrinsic motivation and activate mood states that are typical for flow. The interaction between three large-scale attentional networks, namely the Default Mode Network, Central Executive Network and the Salience Network is proposed to play a role in the strong task engagement, low self-referential thinking, feedback and feelings of control in flow. The proposed relationships between flow and the brain networks may support the generation of new hypotheses and can guide future research in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitri van der Linden
- Department of Psychology, Education, and Child StudiesErasmus University RotterdamRotterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Mattie Tops
- Developmental and Educational Psychology UnitLeiden UniversityLeidenThe Netherlands
| | - Arnold B. Bakker
- Department of Psychology, Education, and Child StudiesErasmus University RotterdamRotterdamThe Netherlands
- University of JohannesburgSouth Africa
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22
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Horwitz EB, Harmat L, Osika W, Theorell T. The Interplay Between Chamber Musicians During Two Public Performances of the Same Piece: A Novel Methodology Using the Concept of "Flow". Front Psychol 2021; 11:618227. [PMID: 33488486 PMCID: PMC7815933 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.618227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of the study is to explore a new research methodology that will improve our understanding of “flow” through indicators of physiological and qualitative state. We examine indicators of “flow” experienced by musicians of a youth string quartet, two women (25, 29) and two men (23, 24). Electrocardiogram (ECG) equipment was used to record heart rate variability (HRV) data throughout the four movements in one and the same quartet performed during two concerts. Individual physiological indicators of flow were supplemented by assessments of group “state flow” (means from standardized questionnaires) and a group interview in which the musicians provided qualitative data. A matrix was constructed for the characterization of different kinds of demands in the written music in each one of the four movements for each one of the musicians. HRV derived from ECG data showed non-significant trends for group state flow across the eight musical episodes. Individual-level analysis showed that compared to the other players the first violin player had the highest mean heart rate and the lowest increase in high frequency (HF) power in HRV during this particular movement, particularly during the second concert. The qualitative data illustrated how an interplay of synchronized social interactions between this player and their colleagues during the musical performance was associated with a feeling of group state flow and served to support the first violinist. The case illustrates that the proposed mixed methodology drawing on physiological and qualitative data, has the potential to provide meaningful information about experiences of a flow state, both at individual and group levels. Applications in future research are possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Bojner Horwitz
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Music, Pedagogy and Society, Royal College of Music, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Center for Social Sustainability, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - László Harmat
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden
| | - Walter Osika
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Center for Social Sustainability, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Northern Stockholm Psychiatry, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Töres Theorell
- Department of Music, Pedagogy and Society, Royal College of Music, Stockholm, Sweden.,Stress Research Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
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23
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Marion-St-Onge C, Weiss MW, Sharda M, Peretz I. What Makes Musical Prodigies? Front Psychol 2020; 11:566373. [PMID: 33362630 PMCID: PMC7759486 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.566373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Musical prodigies reach exceptionally high levels of achievement before adolescence. Despite longstanding interest and fascination in musical prodigies, little is known about their psychological profile. Here we assess to what extent practice, intelligence, and personality make musical prodigies a distinct category of musician. Nineteen former or current musical prodigies (aged 12–34) were compared to 35 musicians (aged 14–37) with either an early (mean age 6) or late (mean age 10) start but similar amount of musical training, and 16 non-musicians (aged 14–34). All completed a Wechsler IQ test, the Big Five Inventory, the Autism Spectrum Quotient, the Barcelona Music Reward Questionnaire, the Dispositional Flow Scale, and a detailed history of their lifetime music practice. None of the psychological traits distinguished musical prodigies from control musicians or non-musicians except their propensity to report flow during practice. The other aspects that differentiated musical prodigies from their peers were the intensity of their practice before adolescence, and the source of their motivation when they began to play. Thus practice, by itself, does not make a prodigy. The results are compatible with multifactorial models of expertise, with prodigies lying at the high end of the continuum. In summary, prodigies are expected to present brain predispositions facilitating their success in learning an instrument, which could be amplified by their early and intense practice happening at a moment when brain plasticity is heightened.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chanel Marion-St-Onge
- Department of Psychology, International Laboratory for Brain, Music, and Sound Research, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Michael W Weiss
- Department of Psychology, International Laboratory for Brain, Music, and Sound Research, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Megha Sharda
- Department of Psychology, International Laboratory for Brain, Music, and Sound Research, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Isabelle Peretz
- Department of Psychology, International Laboratory for Brain, Music, and Sound Research, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
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24
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Khoshnoud S, Alvarez Igarzábal F, Wittmann M. Peripheral-physiological and neural correlates of the flow experience while playing video games: a comprehensive review. PeerJ 2020; 8:e10520. [PMID: 33384898 PMCID: PMC7751419 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The flow state is defined by intense involvement in an activity with high degrees of concentration and focused attention accompanied by a sense of pleasure. Video games are effective tools for inducing flow, and keeping players in this state is considered to be one of the central goals of game design. Many studies have focused on the underlying physiological and neural mechanisms of flow. Results are inconsistent when describing a unified mechanism underlying this mental state. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the physiological and neural correlates of flow and explains the relationship between the reported physiological and neural markers of the flow experience. Despite the heterogeneous results, it seems possible to establish associations between reported markers and the cognitive and experiential aspects of flow, particularly regarding arousal, attention control, reward processing, automaticity, and self-referential processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiva Khoshnoud
- Institute for Frontier Areas of Psychology and Mental Health, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Marc Wittmann
- Institute for Frontier Areas of Psychology and Mental Health, Freiburg, Germany
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25
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Ben-Soussan TD, Marson F, Piervincenzi C, Glicksohn J, De Fano A, Amenduni F, Quattrocchi CC, Carducci F. Correlates of Silence: Enhanced Microstructural Changes in the Uncinate Fasciculus. Front Psychol 2020; 11:543773. [PMID: 33132952 PMCID: PMC7578698 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.543773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Silence is an important aspect of various meditation practices, but little work has focused specifically on the underlying neurophysiology of silence-related meditative practice, and on how it relates to the self-reported experiences of practitioners. To expand current knowledge regarding the neurophenomenology of silence in meditation, we directly investigated first-person reports of silence-related experiences during the practice of Quadrato Motor Training (QMT) and their association with changes in fractional anisotropy (FA). Participants recorded their cognitive, emotional, and physical experiences upon beginning QMT and again after 6 weeks of QMT practice. These reports were evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively. Findings showed that change between the two time points in self-reported silence-related experiences was negatively correlated with change in attentional effort, and positively correlated with changes in the left uncinate fasciculus. These results expand current knowledge regarding the neuroanatomical correlates of silence-related experiences during meditation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tal Dotan Ben-Soussan
- Research Institute for Neuroscience, Education and Didactics, Patrizio Paoletti Foundation, Assisi, Italy
| | - Fabio Marson
- Research Institute for Neuroscience, Education and Didactics, Patrizio Paoletti Foundation, Assisi, Italy.,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Neuroimaging Laboratory, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Piervincenzi
- Human Neuroscience Department, Neuroimaging Laboratory, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Joseph Glicksohn
- Department of Criminology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel.,The Leslie and Susan Gonda (Goldschmied) Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Antonio De Fano
- Research Institute for Neuroscience, Education and Didactics, Patrizio Paoletti Foundation, Assisi, Italy.,Department of Neuroscience, Imaging, and Clinical Science, Behavioral Imaging and Neural Dynamics (BIND) Center, University of Chieti-Pescara G. d'Annunzio, Chieti, Italy
| | | | - Carlo C Quattrocchi
- Departmental Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Università "Campus Bio-Medico di Roma," Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo Carducci
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Neuroimaging Laboratory, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
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26
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Larche CJ, Dixon MJ. The relationship between the skill-challenge balance, game expertise, flow and the urge to keep playing complex mobile games. J Behav Addict 2020; 9:606-616. [PMID: 33027060 PMCID: PMC8943660 DOI: 10.1556/2006.2020.00070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Interest surrounding the relationship between flow and problematic gameplay has surged. An important antecedent of flow in the context of video-gaming is the skill-challenge balance, but researchers have only manipulated this balance by changing speed of play. The current research seeks to examine the skill-challenge balance and flow in a mobile game in which challenge is increased via the complexity of puzzles. We predicted games like Candy-Crush would more strongly support a model of flow in which the greatest flow would be experienced by more skilled players and that high flow games would induce the most urge to continue play. METHODS We had 60 Candy-Crush players play games near their level standing (maximal skill-challenge balance), or games that were too easy or too hard. Perceived skill, challenge, flow, and urge to continue gameplay were measured after each game. RESULTS Players felt the highest degree of skill-challenge balance when playing games around their level standing. Easy games produced the least flow, while both regular and hard games produced comparable flow despite hard games being far more challenging and frustrating. The findings support models of flow positing those with highest perceived skill will experience greater flow. Finally, flow and arousal combine to increase urge to keep playing. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest those with high perceived skill will experience deep, immersive flow which motivates players to keep playing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mike J. Dixon
- University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave. West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
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27
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Gold J, Ciorciari J. A Review on the Role of the Neuroscience of Flow States in the Modern World. Behav Sci (Basel) 2020; 10:E137. [PMID: 32916878 PMCID: PMC7551835 DOI: 10.3390/bs10090137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Flow states have been shown to help people reach peak performance, yet this elusive state is not easily attained. The review describes the current state of literature on flow by addressing the environmental influences as well as the cognitive and neurocognitive elements that underlie the experience. In particular, the research focusses on the transition of cognitive control from an explicit to an implicit process. This is further expanded upon to look at the current, yet related neurocognitive research of high performance associated with the implicit process of automaticity. Finally, the review focusses on transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) as a novel method to facilitates an induction of flow states. Implications are aimed at a general technique to improve on skill acquisition and overall performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Gold
- Centre for Mental Health, Swinburne Neuroimaging (SNI), Swinburne University of Technology, P.O. Box 218, Hawthorn, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia;
| | - Joseph Ciorciari
- Centre for Mental Health, Swinburne Neuroimaging (SNI), Swinburne University of Technology, P.O. Box 218, Hawthorn, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia;
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, P.O. Box 218, Hawthorn, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia
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28
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Bauer JC, Linzmajer M, Nagengast L, Rudolph T, D'Cruz E. Gamifying the digital shopping experience: games without monetary participation incentives increase customer satisfaction and loyalty. JOURNAL OF SERVICE MANAGEMENT 2020. [DOI: 10.1108/josm-10-2018-0347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
PurposeMany marketplace examples suggest that using gamification in the online retail shopping context boosts sales and positively affects customer loyalty. Nevertheless, more research is needed to understand the effects of digital games on consumer behavior and their underlying psychological mechanisms. Therefore, this article explores how combining games and monetary rewards impacts customer satisfaction, loyalty and word-of-mouth (WOM) intentions.Design/methodology/approachTo test our hypotheses, we designed two online laboratory experiments to stimulate an online shopping situation, as gamification in online retailing has the potential to affect an important set of outcomes for service firms throughout the consumer decision process (Hofacker et al., 2016).FindingsThe results of two lab experiments demonstrate that playing a shopping-related game without monetary participation incentive positively influences all three relational outcomes because games enhance consumers' enjoyment of the overall shopping experience. However, our findings also show that monetary rewards used to incentivize game participation diminish these effects. Gamification loses its positive effects if games are combined with monetary rewards, as consumers no longer play games to derive inherent enjoyment, but rather the extrinsic motivation of receiving a discount. We draw managerial implications about how gamification effectively and profitably fosters strong customer relationships and thus increases customer lifetime value and equity.Research limitations/implicationsThis research is the first to investigate the combined effects of gamification and price discounts that require consumers to play the game in order to receive the discount. Focusing on an online shopping context, this article contributes to research on motivation by providing new and more nuanced insights into the psychological process underlying the gamification effects on consumer' long-term attitudes (i.e. satisfaction) and relational behaviors (i.e. positive WOM and loyalty) toward a retailer.Practical implicationsBased on our findings, we provide recommendations for marketers that explain how gamification can be a profitable and efficient tool to foster strong customer relationships. Retail managers should use gamification as a less costly alternative to typical price discounts.Originality/valueTwo laboratory experiments investigate how the separate and combined use of games and price discounts affects consumers' satisfaction, positive WOM intentions and loyalty. Playing a shopping-related game increases satisfaction with the retailer and positive WOM intentions as well as loyalty. Monetary rewards used to incentivize game participation eliminate the positive effects of gamification.
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29
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Peifer C, Schönfeld P, Wolters G, Aust F, Margraf J. Well Done! Effects of Positive Feedback on Perceived Self-Efficacy, Flow and Performance in a Mental Arithmetic Task. Front Psychol 2020; 11:1008. [PMID: 32595553 PMCID: PMC7300320 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Self-efficacy is a well-known psychological resource, being positively associated with increased performance. Furthermore, results from field studies suggest a positive impact of self-efficacy on flow experience, which has not yet been tested experimentally. In this study, we manipulated self-efficacy by means of positive feedback and investigated whether self-efficacy serves as a mediator in the relationship between positive feedback and flow and in the relationship between positive feedback and performance. Our sample consisted of 102 participants (63 female, 39 male). The experimental group received positive feedback after completing 5 min of mental arithmetic tasks on a computer, whereas the control group received no feedback. A second session of a mental arithmetic task was then completed for 5 min. Mediation analyses confirmed that specific self-efficacy mediated a positive effect of positive feedback on flow as well as on both performance measures (quality and quantity) in a subsequent task. However, direct effects of feedback on flow and on performance were not significant, which suggests the presence of other mechanisms that remain to be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corinna Peifer
- Faculty of Psychology, Applied Psychology in Work, Health, and Development, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Pia Schönfeld
- Faculty of Psychology, Mental Health Research and Treatment Center, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Gina Wolters
- Faculty of Psychology, Applied Psychology in Work, Health, and Development, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Fabienne Aust
- Faculty of Psychology, Applied Psychology in Work, Health, and Development, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Jürgen Margraf
- Faculty of Psychology, Mental Health Research and Treatment Center, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
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30
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Jaque SV, Thomson P, Zaragoza J, Werner F, Podeszwa J, Jacobs K. Creative Flow and Physiologic States in Dancers During Performance. Front Psychol 2020; 11:1000. [PMID: 32528376 PMCID: PMC7266962 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Pre-professional and professional dancers (n = 60) participated in this ambulatory psychophysiology study that investigated performance flow and heart rate and autonomic nervous system (ANS) function during three time periods: baseline rest, performance, and post-performance rest. To gather these results, the psychophysiology laboratory traveled to the concert hall to collect data on dancers. The self-report Flow State Scale (FSS) measured global flow, challenge–skill balance, sense of control, and autotelic experiences; it addresses important features of the creative experience of performing artists. These data were collected immediately following the performance. The flow measures were compared with physiologic responses to performance [heart rate, pre-ejection period (PEP), root mean square differences of successive R-R (heartbeat) intervals (RMSSD), cardiac autonomic balance, and cardiac autonomic regulation]. The regression analyses indicated that greater sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activation with performance (PEP change from base to performance) explained 8.8% of the variance in sense of control, whereas less cardiac autonomic regulation explained 13.8% of the variance in autotelic experiences. The sample was then divided into high and low flow groupings and four autonomic groups. During performance, the high autotelic group and high sense of control group had a higher distribution of dancers with co-inhibition of both ANS branches than had the low autotelic and sense of control groups who employed more co-activation of both ANS branches (chi-square analyses). These novel findings add to the growing information about the interaction of both branches of the ANS during creative performance flow states.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. Victoria Jaque
- Department of Kinesiology, California State University, Northridge, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Paula Thomson
- Department of Kinesiology, California State University, Northridge, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Theater, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Paula Thomson,
| | - Jessica Zaragoza
- Department of Kinesiology, California State University, Northridge, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Frances Werner
- Department of Kinesiology, California State University, Northridge, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Jeff Podeszwa
- Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, United States
| | - Kristin Jacobs
- Cardiac Rehabilitation and Wellness, UC San Diego Health, San Diego, CA, United States
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31
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Abuhamdeh S. Investigating the "Flow" Experience: Key Conceptual and Operational Issues. Front Psychol 2020; 11:158. [PMID: 32116954 PMCID: PMC7033418 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The “flow” experience (Csikszentmihalyi, 1975) has been the focus of a large body of empirical work spanning more than four decades. Nevertheless, advancement in understanding – beyond what Csikszentmihalyi uncovered during his initial breakthrough in 1975 – has been modest. In this conceptual analysis, it is argued that progress within the field has been impeded by a lack of consistency in how flow is operationalized, and that this inconsistency in part reflects an underlying confusion regarding what flow is. Flow operationalizations from papers published within the past 5 years are reviewed. Across the 42 reviewed studies, flow was operationalized in 24 distinct ways. Three specific points of inconsistency are then highlighted: (1) inconsistences in operationalizing flow as a continuous versus discrete construct, (2) inconsistencies in operationalizing flow as inherently enjoyable (i.e., “autotelic”) or not, and (3) inconsistencies in operationalizing flow as dependent on versus distinct from the task characteristics proposed to elicit it (i.e., the conditions/antecedents). After tracing the origins of these discrepancies, the author argues that, in the interest of conceptual intelligibility, flow should be conceptualized and operationalized exclusively as a discrete, highly enjoyable, “optimal” state of consciousness, and that this state should be clearly distinguished from the conditions proposed to elicit it. He suggests that more mundane instances of goal-directed engagement are better conceived and operationalized as variations in task involvement rather than variations in flow. Additional ways to achieve greater conceptual and operational consistency within the field are suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sami Abuhamdeh
- Department of Psychology, Istanbul Şehir University, Istanbul, Turkey
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32
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Gold J, Ciorciari J. A Transcranial Stimulation Intervention to Support Flow State Induction. Front Hum Neurosci 2019; 13:274. [PMID: 31440152 PMCID: PMC6694760 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2019.00274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Flow states are considered a positive, subjective experience during an optimal balance between skills and task demands. Previously, experimentally induced flow experiences have relied solely on adaptive tasks. Objective: To investigate whether cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) area and anodal tDCS over the right parietal cortex area during video game play will promote an increased experience of flow states. Methods: Two studies had participants play Tetris or first-person shooter (FPS) video games while receiving either real tDCS or sham stimulation. Tetris recruited 21 untrained players who infrequently played video games while the 11 FPS participants played FPS frequently. Flow experience was assessed before and after stimulation. Results: Compared to sham stimulation, real stimulation increased flow experience for both untrained Tetris and trained FPS players. Improved performance effects were only seen with untrained groups. Conclusion: Cathodal and anodal tDCS over the left DLPFC and right parietal areas, respectively may encourage flow experiences in complex real-life motor tasks that occur during sports, games, and everyday life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Gold
- Centre for Mental Health, Swinburne Neuroimaging (SNI), Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia
| | - Joseph Ciorciari
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia
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33
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Cowley BU, Palomäki J, Tammi T, Frantsi R, Inkilä VP, Lehtonen N, Pölönen P, Vepsäläinen J, Lappi O. Flow Experiences During Visuomotor Skill Acquisition Reflect Deviation From a Power-Law Learning Curve, but Not Overall Level of Skill. Front Psychol 2019; 10:1126. [PMID: 31156519 PMCID: PMC6530424 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Flow is a state of "optimal experience" that arises when skill and task demands match. Flow has been well studied in psychology using a range of self-report and experimental methods; with most research typically focusing on how Flow is elicited by a particular task. Here, we focus on how the experience of Flow changes during task skill development. We present a longitudinal experimental study of learning, wherein participants (N = 9) play a novel steering-game task designed to elicit Flow by matching skill and demand, and providing clear goals and feedback. Experimental design involves extensive in-depth measurement of behavior, physiology, and Flow self-reports over 2 weeks of 40 game trials in eight sessions. Here we report behavioral results, which are both strikingly similar and strong within each participant. We find that the game induces a near-constant state of elevated Flow. We further find that the variation in Flow across all trials is less affected by overall performance improvement than by deviation of performance from the expected value predicted by a power law model of learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Ultan Cowley
- Cognitive Science, Department of Digital Humanities, Faculty of Arts, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Helsinki Centre for Digital Humanities, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jussi Palomäki
- Cognitive Science, Department of Digital Humanities, Faculty of Arts, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Helsinki Centre for Digital Humanities, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tuisku Tammi
- Cognitive Science, Department of Digital Humanities, Faculty of Arts, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Traffic Research Unit, TRUlab, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Roosa Frantsi
- Cognitive Science, Department of Digital Humanities, Faculty of Arts, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Traffic Research Unit, TRUlab, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ville-Pekka Inkilä
- Cognitive Science, Department of Digital Humanities, Faculty of Arts, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Noora Lehtonen
- Cognitive Science, Department of Digital Humanities, Faculty of Arts, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pasi Pölönen
- Cognitive Science, Department of Digital Humanities, Faculty of Arts, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Juha Vepsäläinen
- Cognitive Science, Department of Digital Humanities, Faculty of Arts, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Otto Lappi
- Cognitive Science, Department of Digital Humanities, Faculty of Arts, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Helsinki Centre for Digital Humanities, Helsinki, Finland
- Traffic Research Unit, TRUlab, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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34
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Salehzadeh Niksirat K, Park K, Silpasuwanchai C, Wang Z, Ren X. The relationship between flow proneness in everyday life and variations in the volume of gray matter in the dopaminergic system: A cross-sectional study. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2018.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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35
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Harris DJ, Vine SJ, Wilson MR. An external focus of attention promotes flow experience during simulated driving. Eur J Sport Sci 2018; 19:824-833. [DOI: 10.1080/17461391.2018.1560508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David J. Harris
- School of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Samuel J. Vine
- School of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Mark R. Wilson
- School of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
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36
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Alshurafa N, Jain J, Alharbi R, Iakovlev G, Spring B, Pfammatter A. Is More Always Better?: Discovering Incentivized mHealth Intervention Engagement Related to Health Behavior Trends. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 2. [PMID: 32318650 DOI: 10.1145/3287031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Behavioral medicine is devoting increasing attention to the topic of participant engagement and its role in effective mobile health (mHealth) behavioral interventions. Several definitions of the term "engagement" have been proposed and discussed, especially in the context of digital health behavioral interventions. We consider that engagement refers to specific interaction and use patterns with the mHealth tools such as smartphone applications for intervention, whereas adherence refers to compliance with the directives of the health intervention, independent of the mHealth tools. Through our analysis of participant interaction and self-reported behavioral data in a college student health study with incentives, we demonstrate an example of measuring "effective engagement" as engagement behaviors that can be linked to the goals of the desired intervention. We demonstrate how clustering of one year of weekly health behavior self-reports generate four interpretable clusters related to participants' adherence to the desired health behaviors: healthy and steady, unhealthy and steady, decliners, and improvers. Based on the intervention goals of this study (health promotion and behavioral change), we show that not all app usage metrics are indicative of the desired outcomes that create effective engagement. As such, mHealth intervention design might consider eliciting not just more engagement or use overall, but rather, effective engagement defined by use patterns related to the desired behavioral outcome.
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37
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Short CE, DeSmet A, Woods C, Williams SL, Maher C, Middelweerd A, Müller AM, Wark PA, Vandelanotte C, Poppe L, Hingle MD, Crutzen R. Measuring Engagement in eHealth and mHealth Behavior Change Interventions: Viewpoint of Methodologies. J Med Internet Res 2018; 20:e292. [PMID: 30446482 PMCID: PMC6269627 DOI: 10.2196/jmir.9397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 188] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2017] [Revised: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Engagement in electronic health (eHealth) and mobile health (mHealth) behavior change interventions is thought to be important for intervention effectiveness, though what constitutes engagement and how it enhances efficacy has been somewhat unclear in the literature. Recently published detailed definitions and conceptual models of engagement have helped to build consensus around a definition of engagement and improve our understanding of how engagement may influence effectiveness. This work has helped to establish a clearer research agenda. However, to test the hypotheses generated by the conceptual modules, we need to know how to measure engagement in a valid and reliable way. The aim of this viewpoint is to provide an overview of engagement measurement options that can be employed in eHealth and mHealth behavior change intervention evaluations, discuss methodological considerations, and provide direction for future research. To identify measures, we used snowball sampling, starting from systematic reviews of engagement research as well as those utilized in studies known to the authors. A wide range of methods to measure engagement were identified, including qualitative measures, self-report questionnaires, ecological momentary assessments, system usage data, sensor data, social media data, and psychophysiological measures. Each measurement method is appraised and examples are provided to illustrate possible use in eHealth and mHealth behavior change research. Recommendations for future research are provided, based on the limitations of current methods and the heavy reliance on system usage data as the sole assessment of engagement. The validation and adoption of a wider range of engagement measurements and their thoughtful application to the study of engagement are encouraged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille E Short
- Freemasons Foundation Centre for Men's Health, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Ann DeSmet
- Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Catherine Woods
- Health Research Institute, Centre for Physical Activity and Health, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Susan L Williams
- Physical Activity Research Group, Appleton Institute, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Australia
| | - Carol Maher
- Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity, Sansom Institute, School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Anouk Middelweerd
- Department of Rheumatology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Andre Matthias Müller
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Petra A Wark
- Centre for Innovative Research Across the Life Course, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Corneel Vandelanotte
- Physical Activity Research Group, Appleton Institute, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Australia
| | - Louise Poppe
- Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Melanie D Hingle
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Rik Crutzen
- Department of Health Promotion, Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
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38
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Michailidis L, Balaguer-Ballester E, He X. Flow and Immersion in Video Games: The Aftermath of a Conceptual Challenge. Front Psychol 2018; 9:1682. [PMID: 30233477 PMCID: PMC6134042 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the most pleasurable aspects of video games is their ability to induce immersive experiences. However, there appears to be a tentative conceptualization of what an immersive experience is. In this short review, we specifically focus on the terms of flow and immersion, as they are the most widely used and applied definitions in the video game literature, whilst their differences remain disputable. We critically review the concepts separately and proceed with a comparison on their proposed differences. We conclude that immersion and flow do not substantially differ in current studies and that more evidence is needed to justify their separation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lazaros Michailidis
- Bournemouth University, Centre for Digital Entertainment, Department of Media and Communication, Bournemouth, United Kingdom.,Sony Interactive Entertainment, London, United Kingdom
| | - Emili Balaguer-Ballester
- Bournemouth University, Department of Computing and Informatics, Bournemouth, United Kingdom.,Bernstein Centre for Computational Neuroscience Heidelberg-Mannheim, Manheim, Germany
| | - Xun He
- Bournemouth University, Department of Psychology, Bournemouth, United Kingdom
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39
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Guan L, Metzger DL, Lavoie PM, Collet JP. Glucose control and autonomic response during acute stress in youth with type 1 diabetes: A pilot study. Pediatr Diabetes 2018; 19:1020-1024. [PMID: 29654713 DOI: 10.1111/pedi.12680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2017] [Revised: 02/20/2018] [Accepted: 02/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic source of metabolic and neuropsychological stress, which may eventually lead to autonomic neuropathy and other complications related to micro- and macro-vasculopathies. We aimed to investigate the relationship between T1D chronic stress and autonomic response to acute stress testing that was expected being affected by chronic stress. METHODS Twenty youths with confirmed diagnosis of T1D were assessed. Chronic stress assessment included hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ≥7.5%, psychological stress assessed by perceived stress scale (PSS), hypoglycemic events, and proinflammatory cytokines. The acute stress testing used standardized stress video games. Autonomic response to acute stress was assessed by the amplitude and direction of changes in heart rate variability. Analyses determined correlations between changes in parasympathetic nervous system during stress testing and chronic diabetes stressors. RESULTS A strong correlation was found between the amplitude of high frequency (HF) changes and HbA1c values (ρ = 0.74, P < .001). Youths with HbA1c ≥7.5% showed a larger amplitude of HF changes during acute stress (49% vs 16%, P < .001) and a higher PSS score (22.5 vs 19.0, P = .003), compared to those with HbA1c <7.5%. Additionally, among youths with HbA1c ≥7.5%, those with positive changes in HF had a lower level of IL-8 than those with negative changes (5.40 vs 7.85 pg/mL, P = .009). CONCLUSIONS Study findings support the need for better understanding the health effects of stress-related autonomic dysfunction in youth with T1D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Guan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Daniel L Metzger
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Pascal M Lavoie
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Division of Neonatology, British Columbia Women's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jean-Paul Collet
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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40
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Deep, effortless concentration: re-examining the flow concept and exploring relations with inattention, absorption, and personality. PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2018; 83:1760-1777. [PMID: 29948186 DOI: 10.1007/s00426-018-1031-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Conceptualizing the construct of flow in terms of 'deep and effortless concentration', we developed two measurement scales designed to index individual differences in flow during 'internal' tasks, such as thinking (deep effortless concentration: internal-DECI) and during 'external' tasks, such as while playing a sport (deep effortless concentration: external-DECE). These scales were highly correlated, indicating that individuals prone to experiencing flow in external contexts are also prone to experience flow in internal contexts. Nonetheless, a measurement model construing internal and external flow as related, but separate, constructs was found to fit the data significantly better than a model where they were construed as a single construct. We then explored associations between flow and various forms of everyday inattention. In addition, we explored the relation between flow and the Tellegen Absorption Scale (TAS), an index of absorption, as well as the Big Five personality traits. Amongst other things, we found that flow was negatively related to inattention, indicating that people who experience flow more frequently may experience relatively less inattention in everyday contexts.
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41
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Flow experience and the mobilization of attentional resources. COGNITIVE AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2018; 18:810-823. [DOI: 10.3758/s13415-018-0606-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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42
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Šimleša M, Guegan J, Blanchard E, Tarpin-Bernard F, Buisine S. The Flow Engine Framework: A Cognitive Model of Optimal Human Experience. EUROPES JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY 2018; 14:232-253. [PMID: 29899807 PMCID: PMC5973526 DOI: 10.5964/ejop.v14i1.1370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2017] [Accepted: 09/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Flow is a well-known concept in the fields of positive and applied psychology. Examination of a large body of flow literature suggests there is a need for a conceptual model rooted in a cognitive approach to explain how this psychological phenomenon works. In this paper, we propose the Flow Engine Framework, a theoretical model explaining dynamic interactions between rearranged flow components and fundamental cognitive processes. Using an IPO framework (Inputs - Processes - Outputs) including a feedback process, we organize flow characteristics into three logically related categories: inputs (requirements for flow), mediating and moderating cognitive processes (attentional and motivational mechanisms) and outputs (subjective and objective outcomes), describing the process of the flow. Comparing flow with an engine, inputs are depicted as flow-fuel, core processes cylinder strokes and outputs as power created to provide motion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milija Šimleša
- SBT Group, Paris, France
- LATI, University Paris Descartes, Paris, France
- LINEACT, CESI, Paris, France
| | | | | | | | - Stéphanie Buisine
- LATI, University Paris Descartes, Paris, France
- LINEACT, CESI, Paris, France
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43
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Kim HY, Seo K, Jeon HJ, Lee U, Lee H. Application of Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy to the Study of Brain Function in Humans and Animal Models. Mol Cells 2017; 40:523-532. [PMID: 28835022 PMCID: PMC5582298 DOI: 10.14348/molcells.2017.0153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2017] [Accepted: 08/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a noninvasive optical imaging technique that indirectly assesses neuronal activity by measuring changes in oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin in tissues using near-infrared light. fNIRS has been used not only to investigate cortical activity in healthy human subjects and animals but also to reveal abnormalities in brain function in patients suffering from neurological and psychiatric disorders and in animals that exhibit disease conditions. Because of its safety, quietness, resistance to motion artifacts, and portability, fNIRS has become a tool to complement conventional imaging techniques in measuring hemodynamic responses while a subject performs diverse cognitive and behavioral tasks in test settings that are more ecologically relevant and involve social interaction. In this review, we introduce the basic principles of fNIRS and discuss the application of this technique in human and animal studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hak Yeong Kim
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, DGIST, Daegu 42988,
Korea
| | - Kain Seo
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, DGIST, Daegu 42988,
Korea
| | - Hong Jin Jeon
- Department of Psychiatry, Depression Center, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University, School of Medicine, Seoul 06351,
Korea
| | - Unjoo Lee
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Hallym University, Kangwon 24252,
Korea
| | - Hyosang Lee
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, DGIST, Daegu 42988,
Korea
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44
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Harris DJ, Vine SJ, Wilson MR. Neurocognitive mechanisms of the flow state. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2017; 234:221-243. [PMID: 29031465 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2017.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
While the experience of flow is often described in attentional terms-focused concentration or task absorption-specific cognitive mechanisms have received limited interest. We propose that an attentional explanation provides the best way to advance theoretical models and produce practical applications, as well as providing potential solutions to core issues such as how an objectively difficult task can be subjectively effortless. Recent research has begun to utilize brain-imaging techniques to investigate neurocognitive changes during flow, which enables attentional mechanisms to be understood in greater detail. Some tensions within flow research are discussed; including the dissociation between psychophysiological and experiential measures, and the equivocal neuroimaging findings supporting prominent accounts of hypofrontality. While flow has received only preliminary investigation from a neuroscientific perspective, findings already provide important insights into the crucial role played by higher-order attentional networks, and clear indications of reduced activity in brain regions linked to self-referential processing. The manner in which these processes may benefit sporting performance are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Harris
- School of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom.
| | - Samuel J Vine
- School of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Mark R Wilson
- School of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
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45
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Tian Y, Bian Y, Han P, Wang P, Gao F, Chen Y. Physiological Signal Analysis for Evaluating Flow during Playing of Computer Games of Varying Difficulty. Front Psychol 2017; 8:1121. [PMID: 28725206 PMCID: PMC5495833 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2017] [Accepted: 06/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Flow is the experience of effortless attention, reduced self-consciousness, and a deep sense of control that typically occurs during the optimal performance of challenging tasks. On the basis of the person–artifact–task model, we selected computer games (tasks) with varying levels of difficulty (difficult, medium, and easy) and shyness (personality) as flow precursors to study the physiological activity of users in a flow state. Cardiac and respiratory activity and mean changes in skin conductance (SC) were measured continuously while the participants (n = 40) played the games. Moreover, the associations between self-reported psychological flow and physiological measures were investigated through a series of repeated-measures analyses. The results showed that the flow experience is related to a faster respiratory rate, deeper respiration, moderate heart rate (HR), moderate HR variability, and moderate SC. The main effect of shyness was non-significant, whereas the interaction of shyness and difficulty influenced the flow experience. These findings are discussed in relation to current models of arousal and valence. The results indicate that the flow state is a state of moderate mental effort that arises through the increased parasympathetic modulation of sympathetic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Tian
- Department of Psychology, Shandong Normal UniversityJinan, China
| | - Yulong Bian
- Department of Computer Science and Technology, Shandong UniversityJinan, China
| | - Piguo Han
- Department of Psychology, Shandong Normal UniversityJinan, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Department of Psychology, Shandong Normal UniversityJinan, China
| | - Fengqiang Gao
- Department of Psychology, Shandong Normal UniversityJinan, China
| | - Yingmin Chen
- Department of Psychology, Shandong Normal UniversityJinan, China
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Perski O, Blandford A, West R, Michie S. Conceptualising engagement with digital behaviour change interventions: a systematic review using principles from critical interpretive synthesis. Transl Behav Med 2017; 7:254-267. [PMID: 27966189 PMCID: PMC5526809 DOI: 10.1007/s13142-016-0453-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 538] [Impact Index Per Article: 76.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
"Engagement" with digital behaviour change interventions (DBCIs) is considered important for their effectiveness. Evaluating engagement is therefore a priority; however, a shared understanding of how to usefully conceptualise engagement is lacking. This review aimed to synthesise literature on engagement to identify key conceptualisations and to develop an integrative conceptual framework involving potential direct and indirect influences on engagement and relationships between engagement and intervention effectiveness. Four electronic databases (Ovid MEDLINE, PsycINFO, ISI Web of Knowledge, ScienceDirect) were searched in November 2015. We identified 117 articles that met the inclusion criteria: studies employing experimental or non-experimental designs with adult participants explicitly or implicitly referring to engagement with DBCIs, digital games or technology. Data were synthesised using principles from critical interpretive synthesis. Engagement with DBCIs is conceptualised in terms of both experiential and behavioural aspects. A conceptual framework is proposed in which engagement with a DBCI is influenced by the DBCI itself (content and delivery), the context (the setting in which the DBCI is used and the population using it) and the behaviour that the DBCI is targeting. The context and "mechanisms of action" may moderate the influence of the DBCI on engagement. Engagement, in turn, moderates the influence of the DBCI on those mechanisms of action. In the research literature, engagement with DBCIs has been conceptualised in terms of both experience and behaviour and sits within a complex system involving the DBCI, the context of use, the mechanisms of action of the DBCI and the target behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Perski
- Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
| | - Ann Blandford
- UCL Interaction Centre, University College London, 66-72 Gower Street, London, WC1E 6EA, UK
| | - Robert West
- Cancer Research UK, Health Behaviour Research Centre, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Susan Michie
- Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
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47
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Di Domenico SI, Ryan RM. The Emerging Neuroscience of Intrinsic Motivation: A New Frontier in Self-Determination Research. Front Hum Neurosci 2017; 11:145. [PMID: 28392765 PMCID: PMC5364176 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2017.00145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2016] [Accepted: 03/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Intrinsic motivation refers to people’s spontaneous tendencies to be curious and interested, to seek out challenges and to exercise and develop their skills and knowledge, even in the absence of operationally separable rewards. Over the past four decades, experimental and field research guided by self-determination theory (SDT; Ryan and Deci, 2017) has found intrinsic motivation to predict enhanced learning, performance, creativity, optimal development and psychological wellness. Only recently, however, have studies begun to examine the neurobiological substrates of intrinsic motivation. In the present article, we trace the history of intrinsic motivation research, compare and contrast intrinsic motivation to closely related topics (flow, curiosity, trait plasticity), link intrinsic motivation to key findings in the comparative affective neurosciences, and review burgeoning neuroscience research on intrinsic motivation. We review converging evidence suggesting that intrinsically motivated exploratory and mastery behaviors are phylogenetically ancient tendencies that are subserved by dopaminergic systems. Studies also suggest that intrinsic motivation is associated with patterns of activity across large-scale neural networks, namely, those that support salience detection, attentional control and self-referential cognition. We suggest novel research directions and offer recommendations for the application of neuroscience methods in the study of intrinsic motivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano I Di Domenico
- Institute for Positive Psychology and Education, Australian Catholic University Strathfield, NSW, Australia
| | - Richard M Ryan
- Institute for Positive Psychology and Education, Australian Catholic UniversityStrathfield, NSW, Australia; Department of Clinical and Social Sciences in Psychology, University of RochesterRochester, NY, USA
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Ulrich M, Keller J, Grön G. Dorsal Raphe Nucleus Down-Regulates Medial Prefrontal Cortex during Experience of Flow. Front Behav Neurosci 2016; 10:169. [PMID: 27656135 PMCID: PMC5011146 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2016] [Accepted: 08/19/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous neuroimaging studies have suggested that the experience of flow aligns with a relative increase in activation of the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), and relative activation decreases of the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) and of the amygdala (AMY). In the present study, Dynamic Causal Modeling (DCM) was used to explore effective connectivity between those brain regions. To test our hypothesis that the DRN causally down-regulates activity of the MPFC and/or of the AMY, 23 healthy male students solved mental arithmetic tasks of varying difficulty during functional magnetic resonance imaging. A “flow” condition, with task demands automatically balanced with participants’ skill level, was compared with conditions of “boredom” and “overload”. DCM models were constructed modeling full reciprocal endogenous connections between the DRN, the MPFC, the AMY, and the calcarine. The calcarine was included to allow sensory input to enter the system. Experimental conditions were modeled as exerting modulatory effects on various possible connections between the DRN, the MPFC, and the AMY, but not on self-inhibitory connections, yielding a total of 64 alternative DCM models. Model space was partitioned into eight families based on commonalities in the arrangement of the modulatory effects. Random effects Bayesian Model Selection (BMS) was applied to identify a possible winning family (and model). Although BMS revealed a clear winning family, an outstanding winning model could not be identified. Therefore, Bayesian Model Averaging was performed over models within the winning family to obtain representative DCM parameters for subsequent analyses to test our hypothesis. In line with our expectations, Bayesian averaged parameters revealed stronger down-regulatory influence of the DRN on the MPFC when participants experienced flow relative to control conditions. In addition, these condition-dependent modulatory effects significantly predicted participants’ experienced degree of flow. The AMY was down-regulated irrespective of condition. The present results suggest a causal role for the DRN in modulating the MPFC, contributing to the experience of flow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Ulrich
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Ulm, Ulm Germany
| | - Johannes Keller
- Department of Psychology and Education, University of Ulm, Ulm Germany
| | - Georg Grön
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Ulm, Ulm Germany
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Ulrich M, Keller J, Grön G. Neural signatures of experimentally induced flow experiences identified in a typical fMRI block design with BOLD imaging. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2015; 11:496-507. [PMID: 26508774 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsv133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2015] [Accepted: 10/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Previously, experimentally induced flow experiences have been demonstrated with perfusion imaging during activation blocks of 3 min length to accommodate with the putatively slowly evolving "mood" characteristics of flow. Here, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in a sample of 23 healthy, male participants to investigate flow in the context of a typical fMRI block design with block lengths as short as 30 s. To induce flow, demands of arithmetic tasks were automatically and continuously adjusted to the individual skill level. Compared against conditions of boredom and overload, experience of flow was evident from individuals' reported subjective experiences and changes in electrodermal activity. Neural activation was relatively increased during flow, particularly in the anterior insula, inferior frontal gyri, basal ganglia and midbrain. Relative activation decreases during flow were observed in medial prefrontal and posterior cingulate cortex, and in the medial temporal lobe including the amygdala. Present findings suggest that even in the context of comparably short activation blocks flow can be reliably experienced and is associated with changes in neural activation of brain regions previously described. Possible mechanisms of interacting brain regions are outlined, awaiting further investigation which should now be possible given the greater temporal resolution compared with previous perfusion imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Ulrich
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Ulm, 89075 Ulm and
| | - Johannes Keller
- Department of Psychology and Education, University of Ulm, 89069 Ulm, Germany
| | - Georg Grön
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Ulm, 89075 Ulm and
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