What brain scans reveal about soccer fans’ passion and rage

Researchers scanning soccer fans’ brains found that wins trigger bursts of reward activity while losses dampen control signals. The results show how loyalty and rivalry can override logic, turning competition into an emotional storm. The same brain circuits that fuel sports passion may also underlie political or social fanaticism. Early experiences, the study suggests, shape whether these circuits lead to healthy excitement or explosive reactions.

source https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251111233952.htm