A computational theory of the subjective experience of flow
Nature Communications April 26, 2022 David E. Melnikoff, Ryan W. Carlson, Paul E. Stillman
Flow is a subjective state characterized by immersion and engagement in one’s current activity. The benefits of flow for productivity and health are well-documented, but a rigorous description of the flow-generating process remains elusive. Here we develop and empirically test a theory of flow’s computational substrates: the informational theory of flow. Our theory draws on the concept of...