The brain in flow: a systematic review on the neural basis of the flow state

Abstract

Flow state is a subjective experience that people report when task performance is experienced as automatic, intrinsically rewarding, optimal and effortless. While this intriguing phenomenon is the subject of a plethora of behavioural studies, only recently researchers have started to look at its neural correlates. Here, we summarize the main findings of a total of 22 studies aimed at inducing or assessing the experience of flow and the concomitant brain activity patterns. In light of the results, we conclude that the current available evidence is sparse and inconclusive, which limits any theoretical debate. We also outline major limitations of this literature and highlight several aspects regarding experimental design and flow measurements that may provide useful avenues for future studies on this topic.

Drawing the experience dynamics of meditation

“…Similar analogies exist in early Buddhist scriptures, describing sensory experiences and mental events, such as feelings, perceptions and volitions, to flow in a constantly changing “mind stream” 18 . It remains a challenge to reliably capture the stream of consciousness, which would enable the study of the dynamics of continuous experiences, such as altered states of consciousness, flow states 19 , or the affective states associated with mental disorders 20 .…”