These results are building blocks for future neurophysiological assessments of flow.Ĭsikszentmihalyi (1975) described the state of flow as an optimal experience that occurs when an individual is immersed in an activity and feels enjoyment. On the physiological level, a higher level of flow was associated with increased overall sympathetic activity and less inhibited parasympathetic activity toward the end of the game.
![autotonic player vst autotonic player vst](http://maltedmedia.com/people/bathory/performer-vsti.jpg)
Since higher absorption was related to higher performance in the game, the higher HEP in more absorbed individuals reflects more efficient brain–heart interaction, which is necessary for efficient game play. While the HEP amplitude was overall lower during the gaming session than during the resting states, within the gaming session the amplitude of HEP was positively associated with absorption. The HEP amplitude predicted the level of absorption in the game. This HEP effect corresponded with lower activity during gameplay in brain regions contributing to interoceptive processing. On the cortical level, the fronto-central HEP amplitude was significantly lower while playing the game compared to resting states before and after the game, reflecting less self-referential processing while playing. The more participants were absorbed in the game, the less they thought about time and the faster time passed subjectively. 22 gamers and 21 non-gamers played the video game Thumper for 25 min while their brain and cardiorespiratory signals were simultaneously recorded.
![autotonic player vst autotonic player vst](https://freevstplugins.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LaserBlade_3-768x434.jpg)
We used the heart-evoked potential (HEP), an index representing brain–heart interaction, as well as indices of peripheral physiology to assess the state of flow in individuals playing a video game. The flow state – an experience of complete absorption in an activity – is linked with less self-referential processing and increased arousal.