Sound gets you into flow. What is a Flow State?

Thanks to modern neuroscience, we now understand that there is a distinct pattern in the brain as to how a flow state is induced. Flow states are induced via interactions between 5 different neurotransmitters within the human brain. The neurotransmitters are:

Dopamine – When you first enter into flow, dopamine floods your brain. It increases attention, information flow, and pattern recognition. It is essentially a skill booster.

Oxytocin - The “love” chemical that bonds you to others, and to yourself.

Norepinephrine – This speeds up heart rate, muscle tension, and respiration. It triggers a glucose response so we have more energy; increasing arousal, attention, neural efficiency, and emotional control thus producing a high. << This one kicks in during competitive flow states.

Endorphins – Rooting from the word “endogenous,” meaning naturally internal to the body, endorphins relieve pain and induce pleasure. They function similarly to opioids. However, the feeling attainted from endorphins is up to 100 times more powerful than morphine.

Anandamide – Stemming from the Sanskrit word for “bliss,” Anandamide is an endogenous cannabinoid and feels similar to the psychoactive effect found in marijuana. Anandamide is released in exercise-induced flow states and elevates mood, relieves pain, dilates blood vessels, and aids in respiration. It has also been proven to amplify lateral thinking – the ability to link disparate ideas together. << We get this one when we dance!

Serotonin – At the end of a flow state, serotonin fills the brain producing an “after-glow” effect. This leaves you with a post-exercise feeling of bliss and is only felt once the flow state has already come and gone.

In a nutshell, these 5 chemicals make up the brain science of flow states. So the next time you’re doing whatever is you do that brings you into a flow state, you can now recognize the science behind this powerful tool that is found within your own being.