VOA常速英语2015--新电视节目探索人类大脑

新电视节目探索人类大脑

In the six-part program David Eagleman demonstrates how our brains create what we perceive as reality and how what we are is a construct within the brain’s circuitry that is never complete.

在这档六集系列节目中，大卫·伊戈曼解释了人类的大脑是怎样形成我们所见的现实的，以及我们不断进化的脑回路是如何造就我们的。

We are not fixed¹; from cradle to grave, we are works in progress. I think what people will find, I hope, if I have done my job right, is an inroad into understanding themselves a little bit better.

我们不是一成不变的；从出生到死亡我们都在不断进步。我期望，如果我工作无误，我认为人类将能更好地了解自己。

In a presentation in Houston, Eagleman spoke² of his fascination³ with the human brain’s complexity⁴.

伊戈曼在休斯敦的一次演讲中说到了他对人类大脑复杂性的设想。

The brain contains a hundred billion neurons and every single neuron in your brain is about as complicated as the city of Houston.

大脑中有一千亿个神经元，而每一个神经元都像休斯敦这座城市一样复杂。

In sample clips from his series, Eagleman showed experiments he and other researchers have done to learn how the brain works.

在该节目的样片中，伊戈曼展示了他和其他研究人员为研究大脑工作机理而做的实验。

He shows how simple actions involve many coordinated⁵ brain patterns influenced by impulses that sometimes compete.

他向我们展示了通过大脑各部分协同配合而形成的简单行为，而这些部分有时也会相互冲突。

You are made of different drives，all of humam are tring to be in control.

人类大脑是被推动向前的，人们正在企图对它进行控制。

He said the conscious, reasoning part of the brain sometimes struggles with the basic impulses from the larger, unconscious part of the brain.

他说大脑中自觉理性的一部分会与不自觉且占比例更大的一部分作斗争。

When you are faced with some temptation, like warm chocolate-chip cookies in front of you, part of your brain wants that, part of your brain says, Don't eat that; you are going to get fat and you can argue with yourself.

当你面对某种诱惑时，比如放在你面前的巧克力碎片饼干，你大脑的一方面想要去吃它，另一方面却会想别吃那种东西，你会变胖。你自己会和自己进行理论。

In the series, Eagleman also looks ahead to where brain research may lead in the future and he says there is a lot more to learn.

伊戈曼在节目中还展望了大脑研究领域的未来并表示学无止境。

Why do brains sleep and dream? What is intelligence? How do you build consciousness out of pieces and parts? Those questions are still open territory.

大脑为什么会睡着和做梦？智商是什么？人类是怎样把一些零碎的东西形成意识的？这些问题仍是我们未涉足的领域。

 

The PBS series “The Brain with David Eagleman” airs in the United States beginning Wednesda

PBS电视台系列节目《大卫·伊戈曼与大脑》星期三在美国开播。

1 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

2 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

3 fascination   

n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋

参考例句：

• He had a deep fascination with all forms of transport.他对所有的运输工具都很着迷。
• His letters have been a source of fascination to a wide audience.广大观众一直迷恋于他的来信。

4 complexity   

n.复杂(性)，复杂的事物

参考例句：

• Only now did he understand the full complexity of the problem.直到现在他才明白这一问题的全部复杂性。
• The complexity of the road map puzzled me.错综复杂的公路图把我搞糊涂了。

5 coordinated   

adj.协调的

参考例句：

• The sound has to be coordinated with the picture. 声音必须和画面协调一致。
• The numerous existing statutes are complicated and poorly coordinated. 目前繁多的法令既十分复杂又缺乏快调。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法