60秒科学:Sound During Sleep Fixes Learning

Sound During Sleep Fixes Learning
A study in the journal Science found that sleeping after learning consolidated² the acquisition of the new information, especially if sound cues related to the info were played to the sleeper³. Karen Hopkin reports

There’s nothing like a good nap. It can refresh your mood—and possibly your memory. Because a new study in the journal Science shows that a quick snooze after a mental workout helps to consolidate¹ learning. And that sounds heard during sleep can trigger associations that sharpen memory even more.

A dozen subjects took a memory test in which they learned the positions of 50 objects on a computer screen. Each picture was paired with its own little sound effect. So, an image of a shattering wine goblet⁴ was accompanied by the tinkle⁵ of breaking glass. [glass break sound] Little sticks of dynamite⁶? [boom sound] And so on.

Once the subjects had learned to put the pictures where they belong, they were escorted to a dark room, fitted with electrodes, and encouraged to take a little nap. While they slept, scientists played the sound cues for half the images presented during the memory test. And when the subjects woke up and retook the test, they were better at placing the 25 objects that sounded off during the siesta⁷. Even though none of them reported actually hearing anything.

So a sound sleep may help you find your car keys. Especially if they [car keys chirp⁸ sound] while you [snore sound].
 

1 consolidate   

v.使加固，使加强；(把...)联为一体，合并

参考例句：

• The two banks will consolidate in July next year. 这两家银行明年7月将合并。
• The government hoped to consolidate ten states to form three new ones.政府希望把十个州合并成三个新的州。

2 consolidated   

a.联合的

参考例句：

• With this new movie he has consolidated his position as the country's leading director. 他新执导的影片巩固了他作为全国最佳导演的地位。
• Those two banks have consolidated and formed a single large bank. 那两家银行已合并成一家大银行。

3 sleeper   

n.睡眠者，卧车，卧铺

参考例句：

• I usually go up to London on the sleeper. 我一般都乘卧车去伦敦。
• But first he explained that he was a very heavy sleeper. 但首先他解释说自己睡觉很沉。

4 goblet   

n.高脚酒杯

参考例句：

• He poured some wine into the goblet.他向高脚酒杯里倒了一些葡萄酒。
• He swirled the brandy around in the huge goblet.他摇晃着高脚大玻璃杯使里面的白兰地酒旋动起来。

5 tinkle   

vi.叮当作响；n.叮当声

参考例句：

• The wine glass dropped to the floor with a tinkle.酒杯丁零一声掉在地上。
• Give me a tinkle and let me know what time the show starts.给我打个电话，告诉我演出什么时候开始。

6 dynamite   

n./vt.(用)炸药(爆破)

参考例句：

• The workmen detonated the dynamite.工人们把炸药引爆了。
• The philosopher was still political dynamite.那位哲学家仍旧是政治上的爆炸性人物。

7 siesta   

n.午睡

参考例句：

• Lots of people were taking a short siesta in the shade.午后很多人在阴凉处小睡。
• He had acquired the knack of snatching his siesta in the most unfavourable circumstance.他学会了在最喧闹的场合下抓紧时间睡觉的诀窍。

8 chirp   

v.(尤指鸟)唧唧喳喳的叫

参考例句：

• The birds chirp merrily at the top of tree.鸟儿在枝头欢快地啾啾鸣唱。
• The sparrows chirp outside the window every morning.麻雀每天清晨在窗外嘁嘁喳喳地叫。