J Educ Eval Health Prof.  2014;11:24. 10.3352/jeehp.2014.11.24.

Prefrontal hemodynamic responses and the degree of flow experience among occupational therapy students during their performance of a cognitive task

• Hirao K

• KMID: 2380943
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3352/jeehp.2014.11.24

Abstract

PURPOSE
Although flow experience is positively associated with motivation to learn, the biological basis of flow experience is poorly understood. Accumulation of evidence on the underlying brain mechanisms related to flow is necessary for a deeper understanding of the motivation to learn. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between flow experience and brain function using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) during the performance of a cognitive task.
METHODS
Sixty right-handed occupational therapy (OT) students participated in this study. These students performed a verbal fluency test (VFT) while 2-channel NIRS was used to assess changes in oxygenated hemoglobin concentration (oxygenated hemoglobin [oxy-Hb]) in the prefrontal cortex. Soon after that, the OT students answered the flow questionnaire (FQ) to assess the degree of flow experience during the VFT.
RESULTS
Average oxy-Hb in the prefrontal cortex had a significant negative correlation with the satisfaction scores on the FQ.
CONCLUSION
Satisfaction during the flow experience correlated with prefrontal hemodynamic suppression. This finding may assist in understanding motivation to learn and related flow experience.

Keyword

Cognition; Hemodynamics; Near-infrared spectroscopy; Occupational therapy; Prefrontal cortex

MeSH Terms

Brain
Cognition
Hemodynamics*
Humans
Motivation
Occupational Therapy*
Oxygen
Prefrontal Cortex
Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared
Surveys and Questionnaires
Oxygen

Figure

• 

  Figure 1. Representative plot of oxy-Hb changes in the PFC during the verbal fluency test measured using near-infrared spectroscopy. oxy-Hb, oxygenated hemoglobin; PFC, prefrontal cortex.

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