transient hypofrontality removes our sense of self. With parts of the prefrontal cortex deactivated, there’s no risk assessor, future predictor, or i… - Steven Kotler

This is another reason why flow states significantly enhance performance: when the “self” disappears, it takes many of our limits along for the ride.

When deeply religious subjects view sacred iconography or reflect on their notion of God, brain scans reveal hyperactivity in the caudate nucleus, a part of the pleasure system that correlates with feelings of joy, love, and serenity. But Lindstrom and Calvert found that this same brain region lights up when subjects view images associated with strong brands like Ferrari or Apple.

This is another reason why flow states significantly enhance performance: when the “self” disappears, it takes many of our limits along for the ride.

This isn’t just your mind paying more attention — suddenly your entire body is paying attention. When this happens, it’s outside our conscious capabilities. There are no words. Our language becomes that of the river. All the features of the river speak to you and you to them through motion. There is tension, threat, there is joy and release, and overall, a deep, deep sense of flow. You are literally part of the flow of the world.