Anything is possible in sports, and it is this uncertainty that often keeps fans on the edge of their seats. An adrenaline can take over a fan’s body until the final buzzer or whistle sounds. Find out how and why sports and games excite the mind.
A Community Feeling
A spectator plays a sport in their brain when watching a game, and so they place themselves in a player’s shoes, which is caused by mirror neurons in the brain’s right side. It is therefore possible to connect with a player without verbal communication, which can create a personal connection and sense of community with the team.
Studies have also discovered that mirror neurons allow spectators to instantly understand actions and the emotions linked to them. For instance, mirror neurons make it possible for fans to feel excited when watching a strenuous action on the field, which can ultimately lead to an increased heart and respiration rate.
Action Associations
Researchers have discovered mirror neurons are strictly congruent, which suggests they can fire from the brain at the sight of an action or movement that are identical to a spectator’s lives. There are, however, other mirror neurons that are known as broadly congruent, which will fire when an observed action is performed that is not identical to the action spectated.
For example, a fan who has never played basketball can relate to a basketball player taking a free throw, as they may remember throwing clothing into a laundry basket, so they might be able to relate to how the player could be feeling on the court. Also, a spectator could understand what it is like for someone to hit the jackpot at a Las Vegas casino, as they may have enjoyed a financial win when they visit Caesars Casino online (caesarscasino.com).
Feelings of Positivity
Sport fans will understand full well the feeling of exhilaration you can feel when a team scores a touchdown or reaches the playoffs. Well, this feeling of exhilaration could not be possible without neurotransmitters, which helps the brain to communicate with the body, as it sends transmission signals from one neuron to another.
Dopamine is one neurotransmitter that supports the brain’s pleasure and reward centers, which ultimately determines a person’s movements and emotional responses. So, if you are happy or excited that your player scored, or your team won, the brain will release dopamine, which will make you experience feelings of positivity.
Testosterone
Hormones will fluctuate and heart rates will increase for fans watching sports. That is because fans may experience a testosterone increase when their team wins, but the levels may drop when a team loses. The testosterone release is often correlated to a fan’s feeling of dominance, which is why fights and riots can often breakout after a championship victory.
Do you have a theory on how and why sports and games can excite the mind? Share your opinions and stories by posting a comment below.
