The Amazing Brain
美音、自然拼读、分级阅读与词汇复习
Table of Contents The Brain.
大脑目录.
4 Three Brains in One.
4 三脑入一.
5 Brain Stem.
5个脑器
5 Cerebellum.
5 Cerebellum (英语).
5 Cerebrum.
5 Cerebrum(英语:5 Cerebrum).
6 Right Brain, Left Brain.
6 右脑,左脑.
7 Studying the Brain.
7研究"大脑".
8 Brain Mapping.
8"脑映射".
9 “Seeing” Brain Activity.
9 “观察”大脑活动。
10 Mind Control!
10号控制中心!
11 Maintain Your Brain.
11 保持你的大脑。
13 Brain Training.
13 脑训练。
14 Protect Your Brain.
14 保护你的大脑。
15 Glossary.
15 词汇。
16 The Brain What weighs only 2 percent of your total body weight but uses more than 20 percent of your energy?
16 大脑 什么重量只占你总体重的2% 但用你能量的20%以上?
Answer: Your most complicated body part—the brain.
答复: 你最复杂的身体部分 大脑
Your brain needs plenty of energy to fuel about 86 billion neurons.
你的大脑需要大量能量来为大约860亿神经元提供燃料.
These brain cells carry the electrical signals needed for thoughts, memories, and feelings.
这些脑细胞承载着思想、记忆和感情所需的电能信号。
They’re the reason you can ride a bike and remember your teacher’s name.
这也是你骑自行车记住老师名字的原因。
Stephen Smith, a scientist who studies the brain at Stanford University Medical School, says that neurons form a network with more than 125 trillion connections.
斯坦福大学医学院研究大脑的科学家史蒂芬·史密斯(Stephen Smith)说,神经元形成了一个网络,有超过125万亿个连接.
Your brain contains more neuron connections than there are stars in 1,500 Milky Way galaxies!
你的脑部神经连接比银河系1500颗恒星还要多
This complex wiring system enables your brain to act as the control center for your entire body.
这个复杂的接线系统 能让你的大脑成为整个身体的控制中心
Signals travel through neurons to different parts of the brain and body.
信号通过神经元传递到大脑和身体的不同部位.
Three Brains in One Neurons connect the brain to the rest of the body, delivering instructions to muscles and bringing back information from your senses.
"一神经"中的"三脑"将大脑与身体的其余部分相接,向肌肉传递指令并从感官中带回信息.
They also connect the three main parts of the brain: the brain stem, cerebellum, and cerebrum.
它们也连接了大脑的三个主要部分:脑干,脑部,和脑部.
Each brain part controls specific body activities.
每个大脑部分控制特定的身体活动.
Brain Stem The brain stem is sometimes called the lizard brain.
脑器械 脑干有时被称作蜥蜴脑.
That’s because it does pretty much the same thing in lizards as in you: controls body processes that are essential for survival.
因为它在蜥蜴身上做着和你一样的事情: 控制对生存至关重要的身体过程。
Day and night, your brain stem keeps your breathing, digestion, heartbeat, and other automatic body processes running smoothly.
昼夜,你的脑干保持了呼吸,消化,心跳,以及其他自动身体过程的顺利运行.
Cerebellum Every time you move your body, your cerebellum is at work coordinating muscle movements.
Cer 每次你移动你的身体, 你的大脑正在工作 协调肌肉运动。
It adds “targeting instructions” when other parts of your brain send a movement signal using information such as your body’s current speed and position.
当大脑的其他部分使用你身体的当前速度和位置等信息发送运动信号时,它会添加“目标指示”。
With the cerebellum’s guidance, you can touch your nose in one smooth motion.
在大脑的指引下,你可以用一个平滑的运动来触摸鼻子.
Without it, the movement would be jerky, or you might even miss your nose completely!
没有它,运动会是牛肉干, 或者你甚至可能完全想念你的鼻子!
The cerebellum also stores memories of muscle movement.
脑也存储了肌肉运动的记忆.
Muscle memories become stronger with repetition, which is why practice helps some movements—like playing guitar or skateboarding—become automatic.
肌肉记忆随着重复而变得更坚固,这就是为什么练习会帮助一些动作——比如弹吉他或滑板——成为自动动作的原因.
Cerebrum The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain.
大脑 脑是大脑中最大的部分.
This is where most high-level brain activity takes place, including thought, speech, learning, and emotions.
这是大多数高层次的大脑活动发生的地方,包括思想,言论,学习,和情感.
The cerebrum also interprets information from the senses.
脑也从感官中解释信息.
Sensory information reaches the brain as electrical signals, which the cerebrum interprets as sounds, images, and other sensations.
感知信息作为电能信号传入大脑,脑波将它解释为声音,图像等感觉.
It compares the results with your stored memories and attaches meaning.
它将结果与你存储的记忆相提并论,并带有意义.
A stream of electrical impulses becomes a purple bus or a crowing rooster.
一流的电动会变成紫色公交车或鸦公鸡.
You may be surprised to learn that ignoring things is an important part of the cerebrum’s job.
你可能惊讶地得知忽略事物是大脑工作的重要组成部分。
To understand why, take a moment to notice everything you see, hear, taste, smell, and feel.
要了解原因,需要花点时间注意到你所看到的,听到,品味,嗅觉和感觉的一切.
Your senses constantly flood the brain with information!
你的感官总是用信息充斥大脑!
By screening out some things, the cerebrum helps you focus on what remains.
通过筛选出一些东西,大脑 帮助你专注于剩下的。
Right Brain, Left Brain If you could look inside your head, you’ d see that the cerebrum is divided into two halves, called hemispheres.
右脑 左脑 大脑被分成两半,叫做半球。
A bundle of nerves called the corpus callosum connects the hemispheres and carries messages between them.
一群神经素叫做活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活体活
The hemispheres control opposite sides of the body.
半球控制着身体的两侧
Your left hemisphere sends the signal to raise your right hand; your right brain is in control when you shake your left foot.
你的左半球发出信号来举起你的右手;你的右脑在握起你的左脚时处于控制状态.
Although some tasks can be done by either hemisphere, the two are not identical.
虽然有些任务可以由两个半球都完成,但两者并不相同.
The right brain usually controls creativity, artistic skills, and interpreting what you see.
右脑通常控制着创造力,艺术技巧,以及解释你所看到的事物.
The left brain generally controls speech, writing, and math skills.
左脑一般控制语言,写作,和数学技能.
Each brain hemisphere has four sections, or lobes, and each lobe has specific jobs.
每个脑半球有四个部分,即叶子,而每个叶子都有特定的工作.
However, scientists didn’t realize this until the 1800s, when a doctor recorded the strange story of Phineas Gage.
但科学家直到1800年代才意识到这一点,
Studying the Brain Phineas Gage was injured in 1848 when an accidental explosion shot a three-foot iron rod straight through his head.
1848年在研究"大脑菲尼亚斯"(Brain Phineas Gage)时被一次意外爆炸直接从他头上射出一具三英尺高的铁棒而受伤.
Amazingly, Gage survived.
令人惊讶的是,盖奇活了下来.
The hole in his head didn’t affect his memory or his ability to think, but it changed his personality.
他头上的洞没有影响他的记忆或思考能力,
Gage became rude, thoughtless, and as stubborn as a two-year-old, so different from his old self that his friends said he was “no longer Gage.”
盖奇变得粗鲁,无所思索,与两岁小孩一样固执,与他原来的自己大相径庭,朋友说他"不再盖奇了". “
Gage had lost a portion of his frontal lobe, a part of the cerebrum that governs emotions and attention.
Gage失去了一部分前叶 一部分是控制情绪和注意力的大脑
His injury gave scientists one of the first clues that specific brain regions control specific brain functions.
他的伤害给了科学家一个最早的线索,即特定的大脑区域可以控制特定的大脑功能.
Phineas Gage holds the iron rod that went through his left eye and frontal lobe.
菲尼亚斯 Gage握住穿过他左眼和前叶的铁棒.
Brain Mapping Doctors studied Gage’s case for many years.
脑映射医生研究盖奇病例多年.
Then, in 1914, World War I began.
随后于1914年,第一次世界大战开始.
Large numbers of soldiers suffered brain injuries, and the injuries to certain brain regions consistently caused the same symptoms.
大批士兵受了脑损伤,某些脑部区域受的伤害一直造成同样的症状.
With this information, doctors were able to begin creating maps of brain regions and their functions.
通过这些信息,医生们得以开始绘制大脑区域及其功能的地图.
Trying to learn about the brain by studying brain injuries was much like trying to learn about cars by studying broken engines: scientists could identify essential brain regions, but that was about it.
试图通过研究脑损伤来了解大脑, 就像是通过研究破碎的引擎来了解汽车: 科学家可以识别基本脑部区域, 但这正是问题所在。
“Seeing” Brain Activity For a clearer understanding of brain function, they needed a way to study healthy brains.
“看见”大脑活动 为了更清楚地了解大脑的功能,他们需要一种研究健康大脑的方法.
A German scientist created a machine that could measure the electrical activity in the brain.
一位德国科学家创造了一台能够测量大脑中电活性的机器.
This machine, called an EEG, provided a partial solution.
这台叫做EEG的机器提供了部分解决方案.
Everything you do—running, singing, thinking, and more—begins with tiny electrical signals in your brain.
你所做的一切, 运行,唱歌,思考, 和更多的,开始 在你的大脑中微小的电讯信号。
An EEG measures these signals through electrodes placed on the head’s surface.
EEG通过放在头部表面的电极测量这些信号。
Researchers can “see” brain activity when you walk, talk, read, and more.
研究者可以在行走、交谈、阅读和更多时“看到”大脑活动。
Unless electrodes are surgically implanted inside a person’s skull, though, an EEG can only detect signals near the brain’s surface.
除非电极被外科植入到一个人的头骨中,否则脑电图只能探测到大脑表面附近的信号。
Observing activity deeper in the brain was difficult and potentially dangerous until a test called an f MRI became available.
脑部更深的观测活动很困难,并且可能很危险,直到一个叫做f核磁共振的测试出来。
Unlike an EEG, which measures electrical activity, an f MRI identifies active brain regions by measuring blood flow.
与测量电活性的EEG不同,f核磁共振通过测量血流来识别活性脑区域.
This gives an indirect measurement of brain activity because electrically active neurons require more oxygen.
这给大脑活动提供了间接的测量,因为电活性神经元需要更多的氧气.
Since blood is your body’s oxygen delivery system, brain areas with more blood flow generally have more electrically active neurons.
由于血液是你们身体的氧气输送系统,所以血液流动较多的大脑区域一般具有更多的电活性神经元.
Unlike electrical signals, changes in blood flow can be detected deep inside the brain.
与电气信号不同,血液流动的变化可以在大脑深处被检测出.
An f MRI allows scientists to detect the precise brain regions used when you sing, laugh, or watch a scary movie—with far more detail than an EEG can provide.
f 核磁共振可以让科学家们检测出在您唱歌、取笑或观看恐怖电影时所使用的精确的大脑区域,其细节远比EEG所能提供的要多。
Mind Control!
心灵控制!
The ability to detect brain signals raised another question: is it possible to decode these signals?
探测脑信号的能力提出了另一个问题:解码这些信号是可能的吗?
If a computer could decipher a brain’s electrical signals, people might learn to control an artificial limb or a robot through a brain-computer interface.
如果计算机能够破译大脑的电讯信号,人们可能会通过脑-计算机接口学习控制人造肢或机器人.
If this sounds like science fiction, think again: experimental mind-controlled devices already exist!
如果这听起来像科幻小说,再想一遍:实验性的心控装置已经存在了!
Electrodes detect the brain signal, which is decoded by a computer.
电极能探测到由计算机解码的大脑信号.
The information can be used to control a mechanical device.
该信息可用于控制机械装置.
Researchers hope this technology can be used to help people with disabilities move and communicate better.
研究人员希望这种技术能够被用来帮助残疾人移动和沟通更好.
This technique could also be used to send brain signals from one person to another.
这种技术也可以用来将大脑信号从一个人发送到另一个人.
In early experiments, one person’s “brain signal” for finger movement traveled over the Internet to another room.
在早期的实验中,一个人的指向运动的 " 脑信号 " 通过互联网前往另一个房间。
There, a special device delivered the signal to a second person.
在那里,一个特殊装置向第二个人发送了信号.
His finger moved—following instructions from another brain.
他的手指动了 -- -- 根据另一个大脑的指示。
Word Wise • EEG is short for electroencephalogram (ih-LEK-troh-en-SEH-fuh-luh-gram).
Word Wise • EEG对于电脑图(ih-LEK-troh-en-SEH-fuh-luh-gram)是简称.
• f MRI stands for functional magnetic resonance imaging.
f 磁共振成像代表功能磁共振成像。
functions of a person in a light sleep (bottom right).
轻睡眠(右下方)中一个人的功能。
In an experiment at the University of Washington, one researcher (left) was able to send a brain signal over the Internet to another researcher (right), causing his finger to move on the keyboard.
在华盛顿大学的一次实验中,一位研究人员(左)能够通过互联网向另一位研究人员(右)发送一个脑信号,导致他的手指在键盘上移动.
Maintain Your Brain Your brain is an amazing machine, and, like a machine, it operates best with proper care.
保持你的大脑 你的大脑是一台惊人的机器, 就像一台机器一样, 它的运行最好有适当的谨慎。
How do you keep your brain in top condition?
你怎么让你的大脑处于最高状态?
For starters, use it!
首先,请用它!
Exercising your brain helps it grow in the same way that muscles grow with physical exercise.
锻炼出你的大脑可以帮助它以与肌肉通过身体运动而生长一样的方式生长.
Take violin players: they learn complicated finger movements for the left hand, and the brain area controlling that hand is larger than in most people.
取出小提琴手:他们为左手学习复杂的指相动作,控制那只手的大脑区域比大多数人要大.
Brain Training Brain changes usually occur only in regions directly involved with your activity.
大脑训练 大脑改变通常只发生在与你活动直接相关的区域.
However, research suggests that some “mental training” may cause broader changes.
然而,研究表明,一些“精神培训”可能会引起更广泛的变化。
For instance, research at Harvard Medical School showed that people who practiced meditation for eight weeks had changes in brain regions used for learning, memory, and emotional control.
例如,哈佛医学院的研究表明,在8个星期内进行冥想的人在用于学习、记忆和情绪控制的大脑区域有变化。
Physical exercise—especially exercise that raises your heart rate—also has brainwide benefits.
身体锻炼,特别是提高心率的锻炼,也具有全脑效益。
Dr.
医生
Arthur Kramer is the director of the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois, where he studies how exercise affects the brain.
阿瑟·克拉姆是伊利诺伊大学贝克曼高级科学技术研究所的所长,他研究锻炼如何影响大脑.
“Exercising is good for your body and your brain,” Kramer says.
Kramer说:“锻炼对身体和大脑都有好处。”
“Research has shown that children who regularly exercise have better memories and attention and often do better on school tests.”
“研究表明,定期锻炼的儿童有更好的记忆和关注,而且往往在学校测试方面做得更好。 “
Sleep is another key to healthy brain function.
睡眠是健康大脑功能的另一个关键.
According to Dr.
医生说:
Ken Paller, director of the Cognitive Neuroscience Program at Northwestern University, evidence suggests that your brain replays memories during sleep.
西北大学认知神经科学计划主任肯·帕勒(Ken Paller)有证据表明,你的大脑在睡眠中重放记忆.
That may help skills and information “stick” in your memory.
这可能帮助技能和信息在你的记忆中“插入”。
However it works, it’s clear that getting too little sleep decreases your ability to learn and think.
睡眠太少会降低你的学习和思考能力。
Different parts of the brain activate when doing different activities.
不同部分的大脑在进行不同活动时会被激活.
The person’s brain in this 3D MRI is solving a problem, such as doing a puzzle.
3D核磁共振中的人的大脑正在解决一个问题,比如做一个谜题。
The yellow in the brain is the active area.
大脑中的黄色是活性区域.
Protect Your Brain Brain protection is the most important key to brain health.
保护你的大脑保护是大脑健康最重要的关键.
Shock-absorbing fluid and a hard skull guard your brain against injury.
震荡吸收液和坚硬的头骨 让你的大脑不会受伤
If you land on concrete, though, a fall from only two or three feet can crack your skull or bruise your brain.
如果你降落在混凝土上,不过,只有两到三英尺的倒地,就可以破碎你的头骨或打伤你的大脑.
Swelling or bleeding inside the skull quickly cuts off the brain’s blood supply—and your brain can survive only a few minutes without oxygen.
头骨内出血或生活迅速切断了大脑的血液供应,你的大脑在没有氧气的情况下只能活了几分钟。
Wearing a helmet during sports provides extra protection that may save your brain—and your life.
运动时戴头盔可提供额外保护,
Your brain may be the most important part of your body.
你的大脑可能是你身体最重要的部分
Exercise, get enough sleep, and wear protective headgear to help your brain operate smoothly for years to come!
锻炼,睡眠充足,并穿防护头盔 帮助你的大脑运行顺利 未来多年!