Researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to monitor the brains of 60 fans of the Colo-Colo and University of Chile teams while watching their team’s goals, opponents, and neutral teams, according to ‘Science Daily.’ The study, published in Radiology, indicates that understanding brain activity helps explain group behaviors and their social and health consequences. Major victories increase the activity of the reward circuit compared to regular ones, and these circuits are formed during childhood. The reward is stronger against a direct competitor, which explains the great joy when defeating a traditional rival. However, losing stimulates the mental thinking network and weakens cognitive control by inhibiting the connection between the limbic system and the frontal lobes, which may lead to impulsive or aggressive behaviors. Mendieta added, ‘Watching football provides a real model to understand fanaticism and reveals how the same neural patterns apply to political and sectarian conflicts.’
