Using caffeine as a chemical means to induce flow states.

Caffeine, a non-selective adenosine receptor antagonist, may facilitate the flow state—an intrinsically rewarding condition of total task absorption and optimal performance—through several biological mechanisms. These include upregulating dopamine D1/D2 receptor affinity in reward-related brain areas, protecting dopaminergic neurons, increasing norepinephrine release and alertness, heightening parasympathetic high frequency heart rate variability, modifying striatal endocannabinoid-CB1 receptor signaling, and shifting brain network activity toward executive function. The review also discusses caffeine's application for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and notes caveats, aiming to inspire future studies on caffeine-induced flow.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Flow is an intrinsically rewarding state characterised by positive affect and total task absorption. Because cognitive and physical performance are optimal in flow, chemical means to facilitate this state are appealing. Caffeine, a non-selective adenosine receptor antagonist, has been emphasized as a potential flow-inducer. Thus, we review the psychological and biological effects of caffeine that, conceptually, enhance flow. Caffeine may facilitate flow through various effects, including: i) upregulation of dopamine D1/D2 receptor affinity in reward-associated brain areas, leading to greater energetic arousal and 'wanting'; ii) protection of dopaminergic neurons; iii) increases in norepinephrine release and alertness, which offset sleep-deprivation and hypoarousal; iv) heightening of parasympathetic high frequency heart rate variability, resulting in improved cortical stress appraisal, v) modification of striatal endocannabinoid-CB1 receptor-signalling, leading to enhanced stress tolerance; and vi) changes in brain network activity in favour of executive function and flow. We also discuss the application of caffeine to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and caveats. We hope to inspire studies assessing the use of caffeine to induce flow.