时差N小时 为什么我们需要睡眠?(下)

More specifically, the study found that sleep sort of changes the brain's cellular¹ structure.

更确切的说，该研究发现睡眠在某种程度上改变了大脑的细胞结构。

When the mice were asleep or anesthetized, the researchers found that there was more space between their brain cells,

当老鼠处于睡眠状态或被麻醉时，研究人员发现，他们大脑细胞之间的空间增大了，

allowing a sort of brain plumbing² apparatus³ called the glymphatic system to open wide and allow fluid to flow quickly through the brain.

使被称为脑部类淋巴系统的类似排污管道的器官大大的打开，这样脑脊液就能在大脑中快速的流动。

Other studies have shown that toxic⁴ molecules⁵ build up in the space between brain cells.

其他的研究表明，有毒分子在脑细胞的间隙中生成。

Researchers at the University of Rochester found that those molecules vanished faster from the brain when the mice were asleep.

罗切斯特大学的研究人员发现，这些分子在老鼠睡觉时从大脑中消失得更快。

So what does this mean?

所以，这意味着什么呢?

Well, it could give scientists new ways to study and potentially treat brain disorders⁶ like Alzheimer's by targeting the glymphatic system and helping⁷ it better flush away brain toxins⁸.

这意味着通过针对脑部类淋巴系统可以帮助大脑更好的排除脑部毒素，使科学家们有新的方法研究并很有可能治好像老年痴呆症这样的大脑疾病。

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 plumbing   

n.水管装置；水暖工的工作；管道工程v.用铅锤测量（plumb的现在分词）；探究

参考例句：

• She spent her life plumbing the mysteries of the human psyche. 她毕生探索人类心灵的奥秘。
• They're going to have to put in new plumbing. 他们将需要安装新的水管。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 apparatus   

n.装置，器械；器具，设备

参考例句：

• The school's audio apparatus includes films and records.学校的视听设备包括放映机和录音机。
• They had a very refined apparatus.他们有一套非常精良的设备。

4 toxic   

adj.有毒的，因中毒引起的

参考例句：

• The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。
• There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。

5 molecules   

分子( molecule的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The structure of molecules can be seen under an electron microscope. 分子的结构可在电子显微镜下观察到。
• Inside the reactor the large molecules are cracked into smaller molecules. 在反应堆里，大分子裂变为小分子。

6 disorders   

n.混乱( disorder的名词复数 )；凌乱；骚乱；（身心、机能）失调

参考例句：

• Reports of anorexia and other eating disorders are on the increase. 据报告，厌食症和其他饮食方面的功能紊乱发生率正在不断增长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The announcement led to violent civil disorders. 这项宣布引起剧烈的骚乱。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

8 toxins   

n.毒素( toxin的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The seas have been used as a receptacle for a range of industrial toxins. 海洋成了各种有毒工业废料的大容器。
• Most toxins are naturally excreted from the body. 大部分毒素被自然排出体外。 来自《简明英汉词典》