Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Physiological Foundation of Stress01:24

Physiological Foundation of Stress

1.1K
Stress triggers a coordinated physiological response involving the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This dual activation ensures that the body is prepared for both immediate and prolonged stress management. The process begins with the perception of a stressor. This initial phase activates the SNS, leading to the rapid release of adrenaline (epinephrine) from the adrenal glands.
Role of the Sympathetic Nervous System
Adrenaline triggers the...
1.1K
Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis01:37

Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis

48.4K
The response to stress—be it physical or psychological, acute or chronic—involves activation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis. The HPA axis is part of the neuroendocrine system because it involves both neuronal and hormonal communication. Its function is to regulate homeostatic systems—metabolic, cardiovascular, and immune—providing the necessary means to respond to a stressor.
48.4K
Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle01:27

Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle

846
Stress is a multifaceted response to events perceived as challenging or threatening, highlighting physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral reactions. Physically, stress can lead to fatigue, sleep disruptions, and various health issues such as frequent colds, chest pains, and nausea. Emotionally, it can manifest as anxiety, depression, irritability, and anger triggered by both minor and major life events. Cognitively, it may result in difficulty in concentration, memory, and...
846
Psychological Responses to Stress01:20

Psychological Responses to Stress

968
Psychological responses to stress encompass the various cognitive and emotional reactions individuals experience when faced with challenging or threatening situations, such as a job loss. Prolonged exposure to stressors can disturb emotional balance, increasing negative emotions (e.g., anxiety and sadness) and diminishing positive emotions (e.g., joy and satisfaction). These persistent emotional shifts are associated with an increased risk of both physical illness and mental health issues, such...
968
Cushing Syndrome II: Pathophysiology01:19

Cushing Syndrome II: Pathophysiology

4
Cortisol production is normally governed by the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, which maintains hormonal balance through tightly regulated feedback mechanisms. Disruption of this regulatory system is central to the development of Cushing syndrome, whether the excess cortisol originates from external medications or internal pathology. Persistent cortisol elevation alters metabolism, immune function, and endocrine signaling, producing the characteristic clinical features...
4
Hormones of the Adrenal Glands01:31

Hormones of the Adrenal Glands

5.8K
Adrenal hormones play a pivotal role in maintaining the body's electrolyte balance and orchestrating responses to stress, showcasing the intricate functions of the adrenal cortex and medulla.
The adrenal cortex, a powerhouse of hormone synthesis, generates over two dozen corticosteroid hormones. The zona glomerulosa produces mineralocorticoids, exemplified by aldosterone, influencing the electrolyte composition of body fluids. The synthesis of glucocorticoids such as cortisol and...
5.8K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Open your eyes for others' worldviews: How mindfulness meditation at home shapes next-day perspective taking and employees' functioning.

Journal of occupational health psychology·2026
Same author

Human or AI first? A holistic perspective on the sequential order of joint human-AI inspection workflows.

Applied ergonomics·2025
Same author

The dark side of the white coat: startle potentiation and memory bias in patients with illness-related anxiety and controls - A cross-sectional psychophysiological study.

Journal of psychosomatic research·2025
Same author

Student and Lecturer Perceptions of the Use of an AI to Improve Communication Skills in Healthcare: An Interview Study.

Journal of medical education and curricular development·2025
Same author

Trajectories of mindfulness, flow experience, and stress during an online-based MBSR program: the moderating role of emotional exhaustion.

Frontiers in psychology·2024
Same author

Development and validation of a questionnaire, the REST-Q Fire, to identify teamwork-related resources and stressors in firefighting operations.

PloS one·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 22, 2026

An Alternative to the Traditional Cold Pressor Test: The Cold Pressor Arm Wrap
09:16

An Alternative to the Traditional Cold Pressor Test: The Cold Pressor Arm Wrap

Published on: January 16, 2014

15.0K

Cortisol effects on flow-experience.

Corinna Peifer1, Hartmut Schächinger, Stefan Engeser

  • 1Department of Social and Organizational Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Leuphana University Lueneburg, Scharnhorststr. 1, 21335, Lueneburg, Germany, corinna.peifer@gmx.de.

Psychopharmacology
|October 12, 2014
PubMed
Summary

High cortisol levels impair flow-experience, the state of complete immersion. This study demonstrates that exogenous cortisol negatively impacts this experience, supporting an inverted U-shaped relationship between cortisol and flow.

More Related Videos

Eye Tracking, Cortisol, and a Sleep vs. Wake Consolidation Delay: Combining Methods to Uncover an Interactive Effect of Sleep and Cortisol on Memory
08:08

Eye Tracking, Cortisol, and a Sleep vs. Wake Consolidation Delay: Combining Methods to Uncover an Interactive Effect of Sleep and Cortisol on Memory

Published on: June 18, 2014

28.2K
Thermal Imaging to Study Stress Non-invasively in Unrestrained Birds
10:07

Thermal Imaging to Study Stress Non-invasively in Unrestrained Birds

Published on: November 6, 2015

14.4K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 22, 2026

An Alternative to the Traditional Cold Pressor Test: The Cold Pressor Arm Wrap
09:16

An Alternative to the Traditional Cold Pressor Test: The Cold Pressor Arm Wrap

Published on: January 16, 2014

15.0K
Eye Tracking, Cortisol, and a Sleep vs. Wake Consolidation Delay: Combining Methods to Uncover an Interactive Effect of Sleep and Cortisol on Memory
08:08

Eye Tracking, Cortisol, and a Sleep vs. Wake Consolidation Delay: Combining Methods to Uncover an Interactive Effect of Sleep and Cortisol on Memory

Published on: June 18, 2014

28.2K
Thermal Imaging to Study Stress Non-invasively in Unrestrained Birds
10:07

Thermal Imaging to Study Stress Non-invasively in Unrestrained Birds

Published on: November 6, 2015

14.4K

Area of Science:

  • Psychoneuroendocrinology
  • Cognitive Psychology

Background:

  • Stress is known to impact flow-experience, but the underlying psychobiological mechanisms are not fully understood.
  • Previous research suggests an inverted U-shaped relationship between cortisol levels and flow-experience, though confounding stress factors could not be ruled out.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the isolated effect of cortisol on flow-experience.
  • To determine if exogenous cortisol administration impacts flow-experience independently of other stress responses.

Main Methods:

  • A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over study involving 64 healthy participants.
  • Participants received either 20 mg of oral cortisol or a placebo, followed by playing the computer game Pacman.
  • Flow-experience was assessed using the Flow Short Scale after blocks of varying difficulty.

Main Results:

  • Oral administration of 20 mg cortisol significantly impaired flow-experience.
  • No significant gender differences were observed in the effect of cortisol on flow-experience.

Conclusions:

  • This study provides the first evidence that exogenous cortisol, at a dose mimicking severe stress, diminishes flow-experience.
  • The findings support the hypothesis of an inverted U-shaped relationship between cortisol levels and the capacity for flow.