Studies have suggested that older adults are better off letting go of regrets, while younger adults, with more time left to make life changes, may benefit more from holding on to them.

Now, German researchers are studying brain activity to understand the biological mechanism behind this phenomenon; they report their findings in the journal Science.

Using functional M.R.I. scans, the researchers found that after facing a missed opportunity, young adults (average age 25) and depressed older adults (average age 65) had similar brain activity in a region called the ventral striatum, which is associated with feelings of regret.

Healthy older individuals displayed a different brain pattern, suggesting that they were able to regulate their emotions more effectively.