Your Brain On

Your Brain On... Football

Feb 14, 2024

Discover the neuroscience behind football fandom, from shared love of a team to the joy of wins and pain of losses. Explore how our empathy systems connect us to players and the physiological effects of watching sports with others. Join neuroscientists Ayesha and Dean Sherzai as they delve into the cultural and psychological intersections of football fandom, including concerns around sports betting and the power of community.

30:02

Creator website

Episode guests

Lisa Feldman Barrett

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Sports fandom enhances social bonding through shared experiences and activates the brain's reward systems.

Neuroimaging studies show that wins boost brain activity in reward areas, while losses trigger introspection and disappointment.

Deep dives

The Social Benefits of Sports Fandom

Sports fandom provides a sense of belonging and activates the brain's reward systems. Shared experiences while watching games trigger the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine and oxytocin, enhancing social cognition. Fans can empathize with players unconsciously, leading to a shared emotional connection and group identity.

Introduction

3min

The Neurological and Cultural Impact of Football Fandom

9min

Exploring Physiological Synchronization and Body Regulation in Sports Watching

3min

Physiological and Emotional Responses of Fans to Sporting Events

2min

Exploring the Cognitive and Social Aspects of Sports Fandom

11min

Examining the Negative Aspects of Football Fandom and the Power of Community

3min

When wins and losses shape the mood of entire cities, what’s happening in the brains of football fans?

In this episode, we discuss the neuroscience and psychology of:

• Football fandom, and bonding with others over shared love of a team

• The chemicals that make wins feel so joyous, and losses so painful

• How our empathy systems transport us into the shoes of the players

We explore the evolutionary significance of sports, from honing our motor skills as hunter-gatherers to finding connection and purpose through the global tournaments of today, and share our own stories growing up as football fans.

And, we speak to Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett, neuroscientist, psychologist, and author, about the physiological effects of watching sports with others — synchronized breathing, matching heart rates, and mirrored movements.

Plus! Our son Alexander Noor Sherzai, a newly accepted graduate student at UCLA in the field of computational medicine/AI and a lifelong fanatical Pittsburgh Steelers fan, joins us for a conversation about the cultural and psychological intersection of football fandom: being a fan from a young age, engaging in online discourse, and concerns around the growing epidemic of sports betting.

‘Your Brain On’ is hosted by neuroscientists and public health advocates Ayesha and Dean Sherzai.

‘Your Brain On... Football’ • SEASON 1 • EPISODE 2

CONTEST

To celebrate the launch of our new podcast, ‘Your Brain On’, we’re giving away prizes to its earliest listeners — like you! Prizes include memberships to our thriving NEURO Academy community, and bundles, like our Better Brain Cooking Box, Books Bundle, and Better Brain Favorites Box.

To enter, all you’ll need to do is subscribe to Your Brain On, leave an honest review of the show on Apple Podcasts, and then sign up for the contest at thebraindocs.com/podcast.

LINKS

Join the NEURO Academy: NEUROacademy.com

Instagram: @thebraindocs

Website: TheBrainDocs.com

More info and episodes: TheBrainDocs.com/Podcast

GUEST LINKS

Lisa’s books:

• Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain (book): https://amzn.to/2Sp5ar9

• How Emotions Are Made (book): https://amzn.to/2GwAFg6

Lisa’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/LFeldmanBarrett

Lisa’s Website: https://lisafeldmanbarrett.com/