VOA常速英语2013--我们正如我们的气味所反应的那样

 

We Are What We Smell 我们正如我们的气味所反应的那样

Pheromones: they’re those chemical signals often associated with attraction. But there are many chemical signals we give off—including ones that might signal alarm, aggression¹ or other emotions.

费洛蒙：那些与吸引力有关系的化学信号。但是还有许多我们发出的化学信号，包括警告、攻击和其他一些情绪信号。

For example, take fear. If sweat contains compounds associated with fear, could someone smelling the sweat of a frightened person themselves wind up experiencing fear?

比如恐惧。如果汗水中包含恐惧的化合物，是否一个人闻到恐惧者的汗水也同样会感到恐惧呢？

To find out, researchers had male subjects watch two movies. One was scary, and the other made viewers feel disgusted. The researchers then collected the participants’ sweat. Female subjects then smelled the sweat, while the scientists recorded their facial expressions. And the women who smelled “fear sweat” actually produced fearful facial expressions. While those who smelled the “disgust sweat” made disgusted faces. The inference is that the chemical compounds impelled² the female subjects to remotely experience the same emotions felt by the sweaty males. The study is in the journal Psychological Science. [Jasper H. B. de Groot et al, Chemosignals Communicate Human Emotions]

为了找到答案，研究人员让两个男性受试者观看2部电影。一部是恐怖片，另一部会让人感到厌恶。研究人员收集参与者的汗水。然后让女士受试者闻收集来的汗水，同时科学家记录她们的表情。闻“恐怖汗水”的受试者表现出恐怖的神情。而闻到“厌恶汗水”的受试者表现出厌恶的表情。推理表明，化合物会促使女性受试者表现出与出汗男士同样的情绪。这项研究发表在《心理科学》杂志上。【Jasper H. B. de Groot 等人，化学信号传达人类情感】

So despite our lack of conscious awareness³ of interpersonal chemical communication, it seems that we nevertheless do physically⁴ and psychologically process such chemical signals. The researchers note that this study provides evidence that communication is not limited to language and visual cues: even we rational humans can become “emotionally synchronized” via scent⁵. —Christie Nicholson

尽管我们缺乏人际间通过化合物沟通的意识，好像只不过是我们在身体和心理上加工形成这些化学信号而已。研究人员指出这项研究证明沟通不止限于语言和视觉线索。即使理性的人也会通过嗅觉被情感同化。----克里斯蒂·尼科尔森。

1 aggression   

n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害

参考例句：

• So long as we are firmly united, we need fear no aggression.只要我们紧密地团结，就不必惧怕外来侵略。
• Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.她认为攻击性是人类本性的一部份。

2 impelled   

v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He felt impelled to investigate further. 他觉得有必要作进一步调查。
• I feel impelled to express grave doubts about the project. 我觉得不得不对这项计划深表怀疑。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

4 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

5 scent   

n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉

参考例句：

• The air was filled with the scent of lilac.空气中弥漫着丁香花的芬芳。
• The flowers give off a heady scent at night.这些花晚上散发出醉人的芳香。