Changes in pupil dilation and P300 amplitude indicate the possible involvement of the locus coeruleus-norepinephrine (LC-NE) system in psychological flow.

Psychological flow, a state of full task immersion, is positively related to activity in the phasic locus coeruleus-norepinephrine (LC-NE) system, which helps decide whether to engage or disengage from an activity. In 36 participants performing a gamified n-back task at varying difficulty levels (0, 1, 2, and 3 back), subjective flow, pupil dilation, and EEG P300 amplitude all showed inverted U-shaped relationships with increasing task difficulty. A positive linear relationship emerged between flow and pupil dilation, but not with P300, suggesting the LC-NE system is involved in the peak experience of flow.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Psychological flow is a state of full task immersion. The present study was conducted to test the hypothesis that psychological flow is positively related to activity of the phasic locus coeruleus-norepinephrine (LC-NE) system, which supports decisions on whether to engage in or disengage from the current activity. Subjective flow was assessed among 36 participants who engaged in a gamified version of the n-back task with various difficulty levels (0, 1, 2, and 3 back). During the tasks, continuous pupil diameter and EEG were recorded. We found that psychological flow and two presumed indicators of the phasic LC-NE activity (pupil dilation and EEG P300 amplitude) fit inverted U-shapes with increasing subjective task difficulty. Moreover, a positive linear relationship between psychological flow and pupil dilation (not with P300) was found. In conclusion, this study indicates the involvement of the LC-NE system in the peak experience of flow.