Hang, Y.; Unenbat, B.; Tang, S.; Wang, F.; Lin, B.; Zhang, D. Exploring the Neural Correlates of Flow Experience with Multifaceted Tasks and a Single-Channel Prefrontal EEG Recording. Sensors2024, 24, 1894.
Hang, Y.; Unenbat, B.; Tang, S.; Wang, F.; Lin, B.; Zhang, D. Exploring the Neural Correlates of Flow Experience with Multifaceted Tasks and a Single-Channel Prefrontal EEG Recording. Sensors 2024, 24, 1894.
Hang, Y.; Unenbat, B.; Tang, S.; Wang, F.; Lin, B.; Zhang, D. Exploring the Neural Correlates of Flow Experience with Multifaceted Tasks and a Single-Channel Prefrontal EEG Recording. Sensors2024, 24, 1894.
Hang, Y.; Unenbat, B.; Tang, S.; Wang, F.; Lin, B.; Zhang, D. Exploring the Neural Correlates of Flow Experience with Multifaceted Tasks and a Single-Channel Prefrontal EEG Recording. Sensors 2024, 24, 1894.
Abstract
Flow experience, characterized by deep immersion and complete engagement in a task, is highly recognized for its positive psychological impacts. However, previous studies have been restricted to use a single type of task, and the exploration on its neural correlates has been limited. This study aimed to explore the neural correlates of flow experience with the employment of multifac-eted flow-induction tasks. Six tasks spanning mindfulness, artistic tasks, free recall, and varying levels of Tetris complexity (easy, flow, and hard conditions) were employed to have a relatively complete coverage of the known flow-induction tasks for a better induction of individualized flow experience. Twenty-eight participants were recruited to perform these six tasks, with a sin-gle-channel prefrontal electroencephalography (EEG) recording. Significant positive correlations were observed between the subjective flow scores of individual’s best-flow-experience task and the EEG activities at delta, gamma, and theta bands, peaking at latencies around 2 minutes after task onset. The outcomes of our multiple regression analysis yield a maximum coefficient of de-termination (R²) of 0.279. Our findings report the EEG correlates of flow experience in naturalistic settings and highlight the potential of portable and unobtrusive EEG technology for an objective measurement of flow experience.
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