In The Zone: Flow State and Cognition in Older Adults
Brennan R. Payne, Joshua J. Jackson, S. R. Noh, Elizabeth A. L. Stine-Morrow
Psychology and Aging September 1, 2011 DOI: 10.1037/a0022359 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Older adults |
| Key findings | More cognitively demanding activities elicited higher flow for those with higher fluid ability but lower flow for those with lower fluid ability, and the pattern reversed for low-demand activities. |
Abstract
The current study investigated the nature of the flow state among older adults. Flow is a pleasurable experiential state that occurs during full-capacity engagement in which an individual is performing at a level that is matched with the demands of the task. Each participant completed a scale assessing dimensions of flow in a particular activity selected by the participant. More cognitively demanding activities elicited higher levels of flow for those with higher fluid ability, but lower levels of flow for those with lower fluid ability. This pattern was reversed for activities that were low in demand. Our data highlight the potential importance of considering motivational states such as flow in understanding cognitive optimization in adulthood.