Neural correlates of flow using auditory evoked potential suppression

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that suppression of auditory evoked potentials in EEG can objectively measure the flow state, correlating neural activity with subjective experience and performance during a first-person shooter game.

Contribution

It introduces a passive EEG-based method to quantify flow, identifying neural correlates in the anterior cingulate cortex and temporal pole associated with this state.

Findings

Flow correlates with increased beta activity in specific brain regions.

Neural connectivity patterns change during flow, involving the anterior cingulate cortex.

Objective neural measures align with subjective reports and performance metrics.

Abstract

"Flow" is a hyper-engaged state of consciousness most commonly described in athletics, popularly termed "being in the zone." Quantitative research into flow has been hampered by the disruptive nature of gathering subjective reports. Here we show that a passive probe (suppression of Auditory Evoked Potential in EEG) that allowed our participants to remain engaged in a first-person shooting game while we continually tracked the depth of their immersion corresponded with the participants' subjective experiences, and with their objective performance levels. Comparing this time-varying record of flow against the overall EEG record, we identified neural correlates of flow in the anterior cingulate cortex and the temporal pole. These areas displayed increased beta band activity, mutual connectivity, and feedback connectivity with primary motor cortex. These results corroborate the notion that the flow state is an objective and quantifiable state of consciousness, which we identify and characterize across subjective, behavioral and neural measures.