Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Running and Flow: Does Controlled Running Lead to Flow-States? Testing the Transient Hypofontality Theory

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Flow Experience

Abstract

This chapter presents a summary of three studies, using treadmill running in a laboratory context, measuring flow-states via self-report data. To situate the theoretical context of the studies, Dietrich’s (Conscious Cogn 12:231–256, 2003). Transient Hypofrontality Theory (THT) is outlined, to show that flow-states are theorized in this work as being as a result of a down-regulated prefrontal cortex. Also, other neuropsychological research into flow is summarized to build the justification of our three projects. Two non-experimental studies show that flow-states can be induced in a laboratory setting, using a specific workload approach on treadmill or bicycle ergometer. In the third, an experimental study, prefrontal tasks were manipulated while participants were running on a treadmill. The results show that the participants in the control condition (reacting to a visual stimulus) reported significant higher flow-scores than in the experimental-condition (calculating numbers). Participants showed no differences in verbal ability between the conditions. Individuals in the experimental condition showed a decreasing running pace on the treadmill compared to the control-group. The results indicated that down-regulated prefrontal cortex activity could be a possible underlying mechanism of flow-states, which might support the THT.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 139.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abele, A., & Brehm, W. (1986). Zur Konzeptualisierung und Messung von Befindlichkeit. Die Entwicklung der Befindlichkeitsskalen (BFS) [Conceptualization and measurement of mood – the development of a mood-profile (BFS)]. Diagnostica, 32, 209–228.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brewer, J. A., Worhunsky, P. D., Gray, J. R., Tang, Y., Weber, J., & Kober, H. (2011). Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States of America, 108(50), 20254–20259.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brisswalter, J., Collardeau, M., & René, A. (2002). Effects of acute physical exercise characteristics on cognitive performance. Sport Medicine, 32(9), 555–566.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1995). Beyond boredom an anxiety. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Csikszentmihalyi, M., Abuhamdeh, S., & Nakamura, J. (2005). Flow. In A. Elliot (Ed.), Handbook of competence and motivation (pp. 598–698). New York: The Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • de Manzano, Ö., Cervenka, S., Jucaite, A., Hellenäs, O., Farde, L., & Ullén, F. (2013). Individual differences in the proneness to have flow experiences are linked to dopamine D2- induced flow experiences. NeuroImage, 86, 194–202.

    Google Scholar 

  • Del Giorno, J. M., Hall, E. E., O’Leary, K. C., Bixby, W. R., & Miller, P. C. (2010). Cognitive function during acute exercise A test of the transient hypofrontality theory. Journal of Sports and Exercise Psychology, 32, 312–323.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dietrich, A. (2003). Functional neuroanatomy of altered states of consciousness. The transient hypofrontality hypothesis. Consciousness and Cognition, 12, 231–256.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dietrich, A. (2004). Neurocognitive mechanisms underlying the experience of flow. Consciousness and Cognition, 13, 746–761.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dietrich, A. (2006). Transient hypofrontality as a mechanism for the psychological effects of exercise. Psychiatry Research, 145, 79–83.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dietrich, A. (2007). Introduction to consciousness. London: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dietrich, A., & Sparling, P. B. (2004). Endurance exercise selectively impairs prefrontal-dependent cognition. Brain and Cognition, 55, 516–524.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dietrich, A., & Stoll, O. (2010). Effortless attention in sports performance. In B. J. Bruya (Ed.), Effortless attention: A new perspective in the cognitive science of attention and action (pp. 159–178). Cambridge: MIT Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Ferris, L. T., Williams, J. S., & Shen, C. L. (2007). The effect of acute exercise on serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels and cognitive function. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 39(4), 728–734.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein, D., & Koppin, I. J. (2007). Evolution of concepts of stress. Stress, 10(2), 109–120.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Harmat, L., de Manzano, Ö., Theorell, T., Fischer, H., & Ullén, F. (2015). Physiological correlates of the flow experience during computer game playing. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 97, 1–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Knight, R. T., & Grabowecky, M. (2000). Prefrontal cortex, time and consciousness. In M. S. Gazzaniga (Ed.), The new cognitive neurosciences (pp. 1319–1339). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kubitz, K. A., & Pothakos, K. (1997). Does aerobic exercise decrease brain activation? Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 19, 291–301.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Larson, E., & von Eye, A. (2010). Beyond flow: Temporality and participation in everyday activities. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 64, 152–163.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Laukkanen, R. M. T., Maijanen, S., & Tulppo, M. P. (1998). Determination of heart rates for training using Polar Smartedge heart rate monitor. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 30(5), 1430.

    Google Scholar 

  • Limb, C. J., & Braun, A. R. (2008). Neural substrates of spontaneous musical performance: An fMRI study of jazz improvisation. PloS One. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0001679.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Llinás, R., Ribary, U., Contreras, D., & Pedroarena, C. (1998). The neuronal basis for consciousness. Philosophical Transactions Royal Society London Biological Science, 353, 1841–1849.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peifer, C., Schukz, A., Schächinger, H., Baumann, N., & Antoni, C. H. (2014). The relation of flow-experience and physiological arousal under stress – can u shape it? Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 52, 62–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rheinberg, F., Vollmeyer, M. & Engeser, S. (2003). Die Erfassung des Flow-Erlebens [The diagnostic of flowexperience]. In I. Steinsmeyer-Pelster & F. Rheinberg, (Eds.). Diagnostik von Motivation und Selbstkonzept [Diagnostics of motivation and self-concept]. (S.261–279), Göttingen: Hogrefe.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reinhardt, C., Lau, A., Hottenrott, K., & Stoll, O. (2006). Flow-Erleben unter kontrollierter Beanspruchungssteuerung [Flow-experiences under controlled workload-regulation]. Zeitschrift für Sportpsychologie, 13, 140–146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reinhardt, R., Wiener, S., Heimbeck, A., Stoll, O., Lau, A., & Schliermann, R. (2008). Flow in der Sporttherapie der Depression – ein beanspruchungsorientierter Ansatz [Flow in sports therapy with depressed patients – a work-load oriented approach]. Bewegungstherapie und Gesundheitssport, 24, 147–151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saad Al Youssef, H. (2012). Transient hypofrontality and flow-experiences. Doctoral thesis, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Department of Sports Science, Halle (Saale), Germany.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shushruth, S. (2013). Exploring the neural basis of consciousness through anesthesia. The Journal of Neuroscience, 33(5), 1757–1758.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Sparling, P. B., Giuffrida, A., Piomelli, D., Rosskopf, L., & Dietrich, A. (2003). Exercise activates the endocannabinoid system. Cognitive Neuroscience, 14, 959–965. doi:10.1097/01.wnr.0000097048.56589.47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoll, O. (1997). Endorphine, Laufsucht und Runner’s High. Aufstieg und Niedergang eines Mythos [Endorphins, running addiction and runner’s high. Rise and decline of a myth]. Leipziger Sportwissenschaftliche Beiträge, 28(1), 102–121.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoll, O., & Lau, A. (2005). Flow-Erleben beim Marathonlauf – Zusammenhänge mit Anforderungspassung und Leistung [Flow-experiences while marathon running – correlations with demand-fitting and performance]. Zeitschrift für Sportpsychologie, 12(3), 75–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tulppo, M. P., Makikallio, T. H., Takala, T. E., Seppanen, T., & Huikuri, H. V. (1996). Quantitative beat-to-beat analysis of heart rate dynamics during exercise. American Journal of Physiology, 271, 244–252.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ulrich, M., Keller, J., Hönig, K., Waller, C., & Grön, G. (2014). Neural correlates of experimentally induced flow experiences. NeuroImage, 86, 194–202.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wechsler, D. (2008). Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-IV) – German Version by F. Petermann. Frankfurt/M.: Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg Halle (Saale), Halle, Germany

    Oliver Stoll & Jan M. Pithan

Authors
  1. Oliver Stoll
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jan M. Pithan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Oliver Stoll .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

    László Harmat

  2. Department of Education, University of Aarhus, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Frans Ørsted Andersen

  3. Department of Education, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark

    Fredrik Ullén

  4. School of Health Professionals, University of Brighton, Eastbourne, East Sussex, United Kingdom

    Jon Wright

  5. School of Health Sciences, University of Brighton, East Bourne, East Sussex, United Kingdom

    Gaynor Sadlo

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Stoll, O., Pithan, J.M. (2016). Running and Flow: Does Controlled Running Lead to Flow-States? Testing the Transient Hypofontality Theory. In: Harmat, L., Ørsted Andersen, F., Ullén, F., Wright, J., Sadlo, G. (eds) Flow Experience. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28634-1_5

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation