American University in Beirut neuroscientist Arne Dietrich theorized that there’s another process at play during the flow state, called transient hypofrontality — decreased activity in the prefrontal cortex, the portion of your brain responsible for higher cognitive functions like consciousness and memory. This temporary inactivation of the prefrontal cortex triggers a sense of time distortion, loss of your ego-based self-consciousness and inner-critic.[2] When this occurs, Dietrich hypothesizes in “Introduction to Consciousness,” it’s likely that other brain areas free up to communicate in creative processes.

Flow State Alex Azzi's research map