During the season, no matter what sports, fans throw on their gear to represent and cheer on their team.

Whether fans are in the stands or creating their own game day atmosphere at home; the emotions fans feel while watching their favorite team has a bigger effect on a fan’s body than one would think.

In a recent article published by NBC, it explains why fans feel such heightened emotions while watching their teams play; and there are a few reasons.

Mirror neurons

Mirror neurons are a class of neuron that modulate their activity both when an individual executes a specific motor act and when they observe the same or similar act from another person, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health.

These neurons allow fans to understand points of view outside of their own, and put themselves in another person's shoes.

“These feelings are magnified when we are watching a football team or player we are fans of because we ‘know’ them,” Dr. David Ezell tells NBC, adding “When we see them on the field, we are experiencing a portion of the feelings they are having because our mirror neurons are at work.”

Moods

Every fan as felt the amazing feeling of winning and the somber mood after a team loss.

When your team wins, your body releases neurotransmitter dopamine, a chemical that your brain produces that affects your mood.

When neurotransmitter dopamine is released, it regulates the brain's reward centers. However, if your team loses, the brain will produce cortisol.

Cortisol is a hormone that helps us regulate stress within the body; your body releases this when you're under stress, such as seeing your team lose.

Heart rate

Fans are only watching a game, but their heart rate may react as if they have gone through a vigorous workout. A study, published in Men's Fitness, focuses on a small group of fans watching a hockey game. Fans experience an average of a 75 percent increase in heart rate while watching the game on TV, and fans who were at the game experience 110 percent increase in heart rate.

As you prepare to cheer on your team this weekend, whether it's a World Series game, college football game, NFL game, high school football game or the many other sporting events; pay attention to how your body reacts. Are you experiencing these similar symptoms and moods? If so, now you know why.