Physical exercise induces mental flow related to catecholamine levels in noncompetitive, but not competitive conditions in men

The study aimed to reveal physical exercise conditions and catecholamine response-dependent differences while an individual experiences a flow state (FS) following noncompetitive and competitive running drills. Urine laboratory catecholamine levels were measured using a standard clinical method during pre- and post-physical exercises. The noncompetitive task involved intermittent running drills, from an absolute beginning up through exhaustion. Initially, the drill is performed individually then later competing alongside other runners. Twenty-two males (mean age: 40.27; SD: 5.4; min–max: 31–49 years) were selected in accordance to the following criterion: healthy status without using medication, routine forms of training (running, cycling or swimming) ideally performed with regularity, at least three times per week, 45 min per session. During the noncompetitive task, a high FS experience was associated with a low level of catecholamines, (noradrenaline and adrenaline) while in parallel, the high FS was associated with a low concentration of homovallinic acid. During competitive conditions, the FS-related catecholamine level changes have not yet been found. In conclusion, the low concentration of the circulating catecholamines supports the transient hypofrontality hypothesis regarding the FS experiences. Furthermore, synchronized noradrenaline and adrenaline neurosecretion play an essential role in the manifestation and the prolongation of FS in noncompetitive exercise conditions.