Table 4. Studies on neural correlates of the flow state: dual-task paradigms.
| Ref. |
N subjects |
Age mean/ range |
Sample | Experiment type | Design | Measure | Neural correlates of flow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castellar et al. (2016) | 18(9f) | 28.5 | Healthy subjects | Star reaction game & Auditory oddball detection | Under-challenged, Flow, Over-challenged | EEG | Delayed maximal frontocentral negative deflection after the response onset in the flow condition |
| Yun et al. (2017) | 29(5f) | 23.5 | Healthy subjects | FPS game: Call of Duty & Random beeping sound | 30 min Low challenge/ High challenge | EEG | Suppressed evoked potential during self-reported experience of flow |
| Bombeke et al. (2018) | 18(3f) | 25 | Healthy students | FPS game Counter-Strike: Global offensive & Auditory oddball detection | 8 min Under-challenged, Flow, Over-challenged | EEG | Mid-line P300 amplitude smaller in VR compared to playing in 2D in the flow condition |
| Huskey et al. (2018) | 18(m) | – | Healthy students | Asteroid Impact game & Secondary reaction time | 2 min Under-challenged, Flow, Over-challenged | fMRI | Higher activity in DLPFC, SPL, DAI, & putamen in the flow condition |
Notes.
- EEG
- electroencephalography
- fMRI
- functional magnetic resonance imaging
- ERSP
- event-related spectral perturbation
- VR
- virtual reality
- DLPFC
- dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
- SPL
- superior parietal lobe
- DAI
- dorsal anterior insula
- m
- male
- f
- female