Do you like to watch sports? A lot of people in the world do. Every day, people watch sports on television, go to professional sports events, and watch local teams play against each other. Why do so many people watch sports events like soccer, baseball, and tennis?
One reason is that people can feel like they're in the game when they watch. Scientists studied people's brains to see what happens when people watch sports. They found that brain cells(细胞) called "mirror neurons" help people understand other people's actions and feel the same as others do. For example, if a person watches a snowboarder fly into the air, the person might feel the excitement that the snowboarder feels.
The human brain helps people enjoy watching sports for another reason, too. When a person's team or favorite competitor wins a competition, the person's brain gives out a chemical(化学物质). This chemical gives the person a feeling of happiness. As an example, sports fans yell, cheer, cry, and hug each other when they see their favorite team win a big game.
Being sports fans can also make people feel like they are part of a community. When people go to sports events and sit with other fans, they feel like they belong to a group. They don't even have to know the other fans. This feeling is important for humans. Humans are social animals and have to be around other people. They can get that feeling when they do activities in groups, such as cheering for their favorite teams.
Watching sports has lots of advantages. If you're not a sports fan, watch a game or two. You may like it.
