时差N小时 大脑是静止的还是变化的?(下)

In any case, in a recent experiment, scientists working with mice shut down their brains' ability to make new cells.

不管怎样，在最近的一次实验中，科学家们用老鼠进行实验，他们消除了这些老鼠们大脑生成新细胞的能力。

At first, the researchers observed that the mice had reduced functioning in cellular¹ mechanismsin the brain important for memory formation.

起初，研究人员观测到，老鼠大脑中对记忆生成非常重要的细胞机制的功能降低了。

But after about six weeks, they noticed that the mice's brains had begun to compensate² by making existing neurons more active.

但是大约六周之后他们又发现，老鼠的大脑通过使现有的神经元变得更加活跃从而弥补之前的损失。

Relatively³ newborn neurons created before the researchers shut down the neuron birthing process reacted by living longer than they normally would-

相对地，在研究人员阻止神经元生成之前生成的神经元比一般生成的存活更长—

almost as though they knew that replacements⁴ would not be forthcoming and so they had to work overtime⁵ to help the brain get back on course.

就好像它们知道自己不会被很快代替，所以它们必须延时工作来帮助大脑回到正轨上。

This research is of the most basic, foundational kind.

这项研究是最为基础的研究。

But knowing more about how the brain responds to changes could eventually have profound implications for how doctors understand and treat Alzheimer's, dementia, and other brain illnesses.

但是，对大脑是如何变化的了解越多，就会对医生了解与治疗老年痴呆症、痴呆和其它大脑疾病产生更为深远的意义。

1 cellular   

adj.移动的；细胞的，由细胞组成的

参考例句：

• She has a cellular telephone in her car.她的汽车里有一部无线通讯电话机。
• Many people use cellular materials as sensitive elements in hygrometers.很多人用蜂窝状的材料作为测量温度的传感元件。

2 compensate   

vt.补偿，赔偿；酬报 vi.弥补；补偿；抵消

参考例句：

• She used her good looks to compensate her lack of intelligence. 她利用她漂亮的外表来弥补智力的不足。
• Nothing can compensate for the loss of one's health. 一个人失去了键康是不可弥补的。

3 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

4 replacements   

n.代替( replacement的名词复数 )；替换的人[物]；替代品；归还

参考例句：

• They infiltrated behind the lines so as to annoy the emery replacements. 他们渗透敌后以便骚扰敌军的调度。 来自辞典例句
• For oil replacements, cheap suddenly looks less of a problem. 对于石油的替代品来说，价格变得无足轻重了。 来自互联网

5 overtime   

adj.超时的，加班的；adv.加班地

参考例句：

• They are working overtime to finish the work.为了完成任务他们正在加班加点地工作。
• He was paid for the overtime he worked.他领到了加班费。