Enhanced functional connectivity between the default mode network and executive control network during flow states may facilitate creativity and emotional regulation, and may improve health outcomes.
Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience January 1, 2025 Kelly Barnett, Fabian Vasiu
Flow, the state of complete immersion in a task, involves dynamic interactions between the default mode network (DMN) and the executive control network (ECN) in the brain. A review of nine neuroimaging studies found that flow is consistently associated with reduced activity in DMN regions linked to self-referential thought and increased activity in ECN areas supporting attentional control. Functional connectivity between these typically anti-correlated networks may enable simultaneous idea generation and goal-directed processing, supporting creativity. Reduced amygdala activity and insula-reward network coupling during flow suggest potential benefits for emotional regulation, allowing high focus with low anxiety. The findings indicate flow is a unique neurocognitive phenomenon marked by selective DMN suppression and enhanced ECN engagement.