EEG Correlates of the Flow State: A Combination of Increased Frontal Theta and Moderate Frontocentral Alpha Rhythm in the Mental Arithmetic Task
Frontiers in Psychology March 9, 2018 Kenji Katahira, Y. Yamazaki, Chiaki Yamaoka et al.
Flow experience, a state of deep immersion in an activity, can be partially distinguished from boredom and overload by specific brainwave patterns. In an experiment with 16 participants performing a mental arithmetic task at three difficulty levels (Boredom, Flow, Overload), self-reported flow was highest in the Flow condition. Electroencephalogram (EEG) data showed that theta brainwave activity in the frontal brain areas was higher during both Flow and Overload conditions compared to Boredom, while alpha activity in frontal and right central areas increased gradually with task difficulty. These EEG patterns correlated with self-reported concentration and perceived difficulty.