A central aspect of this state is the intensity of the load. Contrary to the widespread assumption that more effort leads to a greater effect, a specific window of low to moderate activation appears to be particularly effective.
If the load remains below a threshold at which stress responses dominate, the quality of movement changes. The nervous system functions more precisely, co-contractions decrease, and movements become more economical. Instead of "sympathetic noise," a state of relative neuronal stillness arises.
In this context, endocannabinoids appear as markers of successful coordination. They are released to enhance efficiency.

Neurochemical Echo

Movement as Neurochemistry – Why Flow Likely Emerges More from Endocannabinoids than from Endorphins

Muscles alone don’t create happiness. The nervous system seeks clean movement, flow, and endocannabinoids—only then do intrinsic reward, efficiency, and long-term motivation emerge.

For decades, a simple explanation for the runner’s high prevailed: endorphins. These endogenous opioids were thought to be responsible for the euphoric feeling following intense exercise. Research now paints a more nuanced picture. What was once described as a uniform endorphin rush is better understood as a complex interplay of multiple neurochemical systems—with endocannabinoids playing a surprisingly central role.

Two Systems, Two Functions

Endorphins and endocannabinoids serve different roles in the body, even though both are associated with movement. Endorphins act primarily as the body’s natural painkillers. They are released under high physical stress and help dampen discomfort. Their function is largely defensive, enabling the organism to continue despite fatigue or pain. Their impact on conscious experience exists, but is limited—not least because they reach the brain less directly.

Endocannabinoids, by contrast—such as anandamide, whose name derives from the Sanskrit word for “bliss”—act centrally within the nervous system. They can cross the blood–brain barrier and exert a much broader influence. They reduce anxiety, modulate stress, affect the reward system, and promote a sense of calm, clarity, and internal coherence.

While endorphins primarily support “endurance,” endocannabinoids appear to shape the quality of “experience.”

The Flow State as an Endocannabinoid Phenomenon

This distinction becomes especially clear in forms of movement not dominated by high exertion. In such states, a paradoxical feeling arises: the body is working, but it doesn’t feel like effort. Movement seems to organize itself. This reflects the signature of the endocannabinoid system. Activation occurs during rhythmic, coordinated movement, and its effects persist beyond the activity itself.

This neurochemical echo can be understood as a modulation of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, in interaction with the endocannabinoid system.

Less Effort, More Integration

A key aspect of this state is the intensity of effort. Contrary to the widespread assumption that more effort yields greater results, a specific window of low-to-moderate activation appears to be particularly effective.

When exertion remains below the threshold at which stress responses dominate, the quality of movement changes. The nervous system operates more precisely, co-contractions decrease, and movement becomes more economical. Instead of “sympathetic noise,” a state of relative neuronal quiet emerges.

In this context, endocannabinoids can be seen as markers of successful coordination. They are released to reinforce efficiency.

Rethinking Movement

This perspective shifts the focus. If flow states are more closely tied to endocannabinoids than to endorphins, then the quality of movement becomes the key to flow.