How Does a Fan's Brain React to Their Team's Win or Loss?

A recent Chilean study has shown that watching football matches causes immediate changes in brain activity, linked to areas of reward, emotion, and rational thinking.

The experiment included 60 fans of the teams "Colo Colo" and **"Universidad de Chile"**, who underwent MRI scans while watching footage of their teams' matches. It was found that when the favorite team scores a goal, it activates the brain's reward system, releasing dopamine, while a loss stimulates areas of thought and reflection in an attempt to comprehend the situation.

Researcher Francisco Zamorano Mendieta explained that neural activity increases when facing direct rivals, and that passionate fans exhibit stronger emotional and behavioral responses that can reach aggression.

The researchers believe that understanding the brain's interaction with sports competition helps explain the mechanisms of collective identity and emotions in similar social and political situations.