EEG and functional NIRS data during Tetris gameplay across varied difficulty levels

This dataset contains measurements related to the experience of “flow,” a state characterized by complete immersion in an activity and optimal performance. The data include cortical biomarkers obtained using electroencephalography (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). EEG signals were recorded from six channels over bilateral frontal (FFC3h, FFC4h), mid-temporal (FTT7h, FTT8h), and central (CCP3h, CCP4h) regions.  fNIRS data were collected from the left prefrontal-parietal region using a 3 × 5 probe configuration. The dataset was obtained from an experiment in which participants experienced different levels of flow while playing Tetris at three difficulty levels. Each trial consisted of a 30-second rest period, a 5-minute Tetris task, another 30-second rest period, and a 90-second questionnaire session. The order of difficulty levels was randomized across trials.

Table1 Participant information

A list of each participant's sex and age at the time of the experiment.

Table2 Trial order

The order of Tetris task difficulties played by each participant. Tasks were performed in a randomized order at three difficulty levels (easy, optimal, and hard).

Table3 Flow score

Result of questionnaires on the intensity of the flow state experienced by each participant on each trial. The flow score is calculated as the total score of the questionnaire, with a higher value indicating a higher flow state.

Table4 Time series data of VAS

The data of flow intensity captured over time using a continuous visual analog scale (VAS) device via the retrospective video-recall method. After gameplay at three difficulty levels, participants rated the degree of their immersion in the flow state during gameplay by moving the slider on the VAS device while reviewing the recorded gameplay video. On each trial, triggers 1, 4, and 7 indicate the start of the video recall, triggers 2, 5, and 8 at the beginning of the rest period, and triggers 3, 6, and 9 at the end of the rest period.

Table5 Time series data of EEG

This table presents the trigger data and EEG signals [µV] from channels 1 to 6. The data were recorded for each participant at a sampling frequency of 500 Hz and processed with a high-pass filter of 0.5 Hz. In each trial, triggers 1, 5, and 9 indicate the start of the Tetris task, triggers 2, 6, and 10 indicate the start of the rest period, triggers 3, 7, and 11 indicate the start of the questionnaire, and triggers 4, 8, and 12 indicate the end of the questionnaire.

Table6 Time series data of fNIRS

This table presents the trigger data and fNIRS oxy-Hb, deoxy-Hb, and total-Hb signals from channels 1 to 22. These data were recorded at a sampling frequency of 10.17 Hz for each participant. The systemic noise component of the raw fNIRS data was removed using the hemodynamic separation method. In each trial, triggers 1, 5, and 9 indicate the start of the Tetris task, triggers 2, 6, and 10 indicate the start of the rest period, triggers 3, 7, and 11 indicate the start of the questionnaire, and triggers 4, 8, and 12 indicate the end of the questionnaire.

Table7 MNI coordinate

This table provides the standardized Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) coordinates [mm] for the participants. To address individual differences in brain shape and size, brain images were normalized to a common reference: the MNI Brain Atlas.