Our brains can experience hypothetical loss, but cannot experience hypothetical gain

Loss aversion is a powerful evolutionary feature in our brains that makes us more fearful of losing something than gaining it. The brain reacts to the anticipation of tasks like achieving a goal with different parts activating pleasure for success and pain for potential failures. Interestingly, the brain can experience the pain of a hypothetical loss as real, activating the amygdala even before an actual loss occurs. This mechanism is rooted in evolution to help individuals retreat from potential problems. In contrast, the brain cannot simulate pleasure for hypothetical gains like it does with losses, leading to a lopsided ability to experience hypothetical pains as real but not hypothetical gains as real pleasure. Additionally, the brain tends to exaggerate potential losses while underestimating potential gains, a mechanism seen in studies of neuroeconomics.

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