Some call it “flow,” I call it “zoning out,” but whatever you call it, it’s undeniable that you can get so into certain tasks that you completely lose track of time, the outside world, and in extreme cases, the state of your bladder.

Psychology prof Clive Fullagar of Kansas State University wanted to study this effect, so he came up with a novel testing mechanism: Rock Band.

From an interview at the Kansas City Pitch:

It’s believed that people experience this state of flow when the challenge of the task they’re performing is appropriate to their skill level. …  With a game like Guitar Hero or Rock Band, we [can] more easily manipulate the task by changing the song or the song parameters. … [T]he hope is that if we can induce a state of flow it will be intrinsic motivation. The task will enjoyable in and of itself and help in terms of motivating people to perform necessary tasks.

The result?

We’re finding, indeed, as people are presented with tasks where the challenge is appropriate, they are reporting more enjoyment.

Well, hell, I could have told you that. Where’s my grant?

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