听力文摘：迷幻蘑菇会让人性格更好吗？

Do Magic Mushrooms Make People Nicer?

迷幻蘑菇会让人性格更好吗？

I’ve heard that psilocybin, which is the hallucinogenic ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms, can alter people's personalities¹ and make them nicer. Is that true?

我听说裸头草碱是迷幻蘑菇中的一种迷幻成分，能改变人的性格使他们的性格变得更好。这是真的吗？

Well, first, before answering the question, we need to be clear that psilocybin is an illegal substance. And although psychedelic mushrooms are not known to be addictive², their effects can be unpredictable and extremely unpleasant.

首先，在回答这个问题之前，我们需要清楚的明白裸头草碱是一种非法物品。虽然我们还不清楚迷幻蘑菇是否会让人上瘾，但是它们的影响是不可预测的而且不容乐观的。

Right,but scientists with government permission are able to experiment with psilocybin. And in one study researchers did in fact find that some people who took a single dose of psilocybin experienced altered personalities for more than a year. In most cases, the alterations³ were positive subjects who had what they called a mystical experience while on the drug showed increases in a personality trait known as openness.

对的，只有得到政府允许的科学家们才能够用裸草头碱做实验。在一次实验中科学家确实发现一些有服用一定剂量裸头草碱的人的性格的确发生了改变，并且持续了 一年多经。在大多数情况下，试验者身上会产生积极的变化，这他们被认为是经历了一次神秘的过程，在这种药物作用下，他们性格中外向开放的那一面有所彰显。

Which is pretty much what it sounds like: being more open to and appreciative⁴ of art, music, other people. Openness also means being more imaginative, intellectually engaged, and more aware of feelings in yourself and in others.

这几乎就是那些听到的东西：试验者变得更加开放，对艺术、音乐和其他人更有欣赏力。开放也意味着更富有想象力、有更多的智慧并且更清楚的意识到对你自己和对别人的感觉。

Which all sounds pretty good. But note that most of the subjects in the study were people already into mystical practices such as prayer and meditation⁵. So it's not as though anyone who wants to become a nicer person can simply take a dose of psilocybin and be instantly transformed. It's possible that the effect only happens with people already leaning toward openness.

这听起来的确很不错。但是注意到大多数研究的主体是已经融入到神秘实践如祈祷和思考中去的人们。所以并不是任何一个想把自己性格变好的人都能通过服用一定剂量的裸草头碱就立刻改变。除非在注射之前他们已经是偏外向型性格。

But it's also possible that psilocybin could be used to help treat people with personality disorders⁶ and other psychological problems.

但是，草头碱还是有可能被用于去辅助治疗那些有性格缺陷和其他心理问题的人。

1 personalities   

n. 诽谤，（对某人容貌、性格等所进行的）人身攻击； 人身攻击；人格, 个性, 名人( personality的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There seemed to be a degree of personalities in her remarks.她话里有些人身攻击的成分。
• Personalities are not in good taste in general conversation.在一般的谈话中诽谤他人是不高尚的。

2 addictive   

adj.(吸毒等)使成瘾的，成为习惯的

参考例句：

• The problem with video game is that they're addictive.电子游戏机的问题在于它们会使人上瘾。
• Cigarettes are highly addictive.香烟很容易使人上瘾。

3 alterations   

n.改动( alteration的名词复数 )；更改；变化；改变

参考例句：

• Any alterations should be written in neatly to the left side. 改动部分应书写清晰，插在正文的左侧。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Gene mutations are alterations in the DNA code. 基因突变是指DNA 密码的改变。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 appreciative   

adj.有鉴赏力的，有眼力的；感激的

参考例句：

• She was deeply appreciative of your help.她对你的帮助深表感激。
• We are very appreciative of their support in this respect.我们十分感谢他们在这方面的支持。

5 meditation   

n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录

参考例句：

• This peaceful garden lends itself to meditation.这个恬静的花园适于冥想。
• I'm sorry to interrupt your meditation.很抱歉，我打断了你的沉思。

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》