Research on the correlation between physiological and psychological states of intangible cultural heritage puppet games based on flow theory

This study is based on flow theory and explores the impact of skill challenge balance in intangible cultural heritage puppet games on users' physiological (heart rate variability) and psychological states (anxiety, fatigue, flow), providing a basis for optimizing game design and digital dissemination of intangible cultural heritage. 35 participants aged 18-30 were recruited for the experiment, and through LeapMotion's finger interaction method, they completed three types of tasks: high challenge low skill, low challenge high skill, and skill challenge balance. Subjective questionnaires (heart flow scale FSS) and physiological data (HRV), use one-way ANOVA and correlation test for data analysis. The low-frequency HRV showed a U-shaped relationship with flow, indicating that the coordinated activation of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves is a necessary condition for flow. The balance between skills and challenges can effectively stimulate the flow experience through natural interaction methods such as gestures. The design of intangible cultural heritage games should take into account cultural connotations and dynamic difficulty adjustment. The study provides empirical support for the physiological mechanisms of flow theory and proposes a new path for optimizing the digital experience of intangible cultural heritage.