title: Individual differences in flow proneness are linked to a dopamine D2 receptor gene variant.
abstract: Flow is a special mental state characterized by deep concentration that occurs during the performance of optimally challenging tasks. In prior studies, proneness to experience flow has been found to be moderately heritable. In the present study, we investigated whether individual differences in flow proneness are related to a polymorphism of the dopamine D2 receptor coding gene (DRD2 C957T rs6277). This polymorphism affects striatal D2 receptor availability, a factor that has been shown to be related to flow proneness. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the association between this trait and a specific gene variant. In a sample of 236 healthy Hungarian adults, we found that CC homozygotes report higher flow proneness than do T allele carriers, but only during mandatory activities (i.e., studying and working), not during leisure time. We discuss implications of this result, e.g., the potential mediators of the relationship.
authors.affiliation: Doctoral School of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Izabella u. 46, H-1064 Budapest, Hungary; Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Izabella u. 46, H-1064 Budapest, Hungary. Electronic address: mate.gyurkovics@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mate
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gyurkovics
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Izabella u. 46, H-1064 Budapest, Hungary; Postdoctoral Research Program, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Széchenyi István tér 9, H-1051 Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Eszter
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kotyuk
authors.affiliation: Doctoral School of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Izabella u. 46, H-1064 Budapest, Hungary; Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Izabella u. 46, H-1064 Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Eniko Rozsa
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Katonai
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Chemistry, Molecular Biology and Pathobiochemistry, Semmelweis University, Tűzoltó u. 37-47, H-1094 Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Erzsebet Zsofia
authors.initials: EZ
authors.lastname: Horvath
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Chemistry, Molecular Biology and Pathobiochemistry, Semmelweis University, Tűzoltó u. 37-47, H-1094 Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vereczkei
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Izabella u. 46, H-1064 Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szekely
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000235:genetics*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C581293:DRD2 protein, human; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2
keywords: DRD2 C957T; Flow proneness; Genetic association