新奇事件簿 孩子的想象力可以缓解疼痛（在线收听）

Scientists have found a new use for children’s imaginations. To make the pain from stomachaches go away. The BBC reports on a new study that shows: “Children can be taught to use their imagination to tackle frequent bouts of stomach pain.” This may be very good news for parents who need a quick remedy for their sick children. Any mother or father understands stomach problems are one of the most frequent things their children complain about. Around twenty per cent of children suffer from stomachaches that doctors cannot find a reason for. This new research is especially good for kids with active imaginations. Researchers found that the more creative the child is, the better he or she is at imagining the pain away.

科学家发现了儿童想象的新用途。可以让胃痛导致的痛苦消失。BBC一份最新研究报告显示：“可以教给儿童利用想象来应对频繁的胃痛。”对于需要给生病的孩子找到快速疗法的家长来说，这是非常好的消息。任何一个父亲或母亲都理解，胃痛是孩子最经常遇到的问题之一。20%的儿童遭遇过医生找不到原因的胃痛。对于想象力丰富的孩子来说，这项研究是非常有益的。研究人员发现，孩子越有创造力，就越能通过想象让疼痛消失。

The researchers, from America’s University of North Carolina and Duke University Medical Center, used a relaxation CD with children. The kids listened to a voice that guided them through different fantasy situations. One of these was pretending to be floating on a cloud. Thirty children took part in the tests. Half of them used the “guided imagery” techniques, the other half received normal medicines. Researchers found 73.3 per cent of the CD users reported a reduction in pain. This compared to only 26.7 per cent of kids who got normal treatment. Study leader Dr Miranda van Tilburg was very excited about her findings. She believes it could be a very cheap and easy way to stop children’s stomach pains. She said it would not work as well with adults.

来自美国北卡罗来纳大学和杜克大学医学中心的研究人员给孩子们播放了一张很舒缓的CD。孩子们听着里面的声音，引导他们想象不同的幻境。其中一个就是假装他们在白云上漂浮。30名儿童参加了测试。一半的人使用了“引导想象技巧”，另外一半的孩子服用常规药物。研究人员发现，73.3%的听了CD的儿童报告疼痛减轻。而使用常规疗法的孩子只有26.7%疼痛减轻。研究负责人Miranda van Tilburg对他们的发现非常兴奋。她相信这是缓解儿童胃痛的低价简便的方法。她说，这个方法对成年人的效果不会那么好。