The brain in flow: A systematic review on the neural basis of the flow state.
Cortex; a journal devoted to the study of the nervous system and behavior September 1, 2022 Clara Alameda, Daniel Sanabria, Luis F Ciria 69 citations
A systematic review of 25 studies involving 471 participants examined the neural correlates of flow—the subjective experience of automatic, effortless, and intrinsically rewarding task performance. Studies using EEG, fMRI, fNIRS, or tDCS converge on the involvement of anterior brain regions linked to attention, executive function, and reward, such as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, medial prefrontal cortex, and inferior frontal gyrus. However, the dynamics of these regions during flow are inconsistent across studies. The evidence is sparse and inconclusive, limiting theoretical debate. Major limitations include a small number of studies, high heterogeneity, and methodological constraints.