Running and Flow: Does Controlled Running Lead to Flow-States? Testing the Transient Hypofontality Theory

Abstract

This chapter presents a summary of three studies, using treadmill running in a laboratory context, measuring fl ow-states via self-report data. To situate the theoretical context of the studies, Dietrich's (Conscious Cogn 12:231-256, 2003). Transient Hypofrontality Theory (THT) is outlined, to show that fl ow-states are theorized in this work as being as a result of a down-regulated prefrontal cortex. Also, other neuropsychological research into fl ow is summarized to build the justifi cation of our three projects. Two non-experimental studies show that fl owstates can be induced in a laboratory setting, using a specifi c workload approach on treadmill or bicycle ergometer. In the third, an experimental study, prefrontal tasks were manipulated while participants were running on a treadmill. The results show that the participants in the control condition (reacting to a visual stimulus) reported signifi cant higher fl ow-scores than in the experimental-condition (calculating numbers). Participants showed no differences in verbal ability between the conditions. Individuals in the experimental condition showed a decreasing running pace on the treadmill compared to the control-group. The results indicated that down-regulated prefrontal cortex activity could be a possible underlying mechanism of fl ow-states, which might support the THT. IntroductionResearch into fl ow-states in sport has a long-standing tradition, since Csikszentmihalyi ( 1995 ) published studies in this fi eld. Mostly, endurance sports like running have been used. Our previous research with runners sought empirical evidence for preconditions of fl ow-experiences (e.g. the demand-ability-fi t) or a relationship between fl ow-experiences and performance (Stoll and Lau 2005 ). In two studies, we analysed one of the apparent conditions for fl ow-states, after Csikszentmihalyi et al. ( 2005 ) postulated that one must have a good balance between the perceived

Advancing our understanding of psychological flow: A scoping review of conceptualizations, measurements, and applications.

“…The premise behind this simplification appears to be that when attention is wholly invested in and directed toward a task, action and awareness merge in the absence of spare attention, and self-related thoughts and monitoring of experiential factors (such as reflective self-consciousness) fade from awareness (Csikszentmihalyi, 2014b;Nakamura & Csikszentmihalyi, 2002;Pelet et al, 2017). Interestingly, part of the support for this absorption theme came from a branch of neuroscientific research, in which it was suggested that flow occurrence results in a depleting "onion-peeling" effect of higher cognitive processes (e.g., Stoll & Pithan, 2016;Ulrich et al, 2016b). During flow, it is argued by some that the highest layers of consciousness -those that include higher cognitive functions (i.e., self-reflective thinking and time monitoring)-are most susceptible to change when alterations to mental states occur and resources are reallocated (Stoll & Pithan, 2016).…”

“…Specifically, our aim in this review was to describe the consistency (and inconsistency) in constructs, dimensions, and working definitions utilized to describe flow, and to chart the varied antecedents, measurement instruments, and outcomes utilized when operationalizing flow. In line with recommendations for cross-disciplinary approaches, and calls to understand flow phenomenologically, cognitively, neurologically, physiologically, socially, and behaviorally (Beard, 2015;Csikszentmihalyi, 2014b;Kawabata & Mallett, 2016;Marr, 2001;Peifer, 2012;Rich, 2013;Stoll & Pithan, 2016), a secondary aim (if possible) was to highlight any common findings that could be used and operationalized across scientific disciplines.…”

Neurocognitive mechanisms of the flow state

“…Dietrich and Stoll (2010) argue that sports are particularly good at engendering flow states for two reasons. First, bodily motion is extremely complex in computational terms, and as such uses considerable mental resources (demonstrated by Stoll & Pithan, 2016). When prolonged, this is sufficient to divert processing away from non-critical cognitive processing (i.e.…”

“…There was found to be no reduction in frontal activity, suggesting that a general mechanism of hypofrontality may be overly simplistic. Support for hypofrontality comes mainly from studies finding reductions in cognitive function as a result of prolonged exercise (see Stoll & Pithan, 2016). Whether this state is representative of a general flow mechanism is questionable.…”

Flow State as an Existential Tool to Increase Optimal Experience and Life Enjoyment

“…Evidence, however, speaks to the opposite and suggests that people can enjoy life better and have more optimal experiences when they reduce excessive cognition (Kaiser, 2019;Norman, 2020). Less metacognition can reduce an individual's inner critic, which may produce a more relaxed state, allowing for increased creativity and life optimization (Stoll & Pithan, 2016;Swann et al, 2017). This process of silencing the inner critic is called transient hypofrontality, and it occurs when the prefrontal cortex of the brain slows in activity and high-level thinking decreases (Sinnett et al, 2020).…”