Do brain training games actually work?
智力开发类游戏“效果甚微”
If you don't use it, you lose it. At least, that's how the old aphorism goes. It refers to the idea that something which does not get utilised regularly quickly falls into a state of decline. For example, a hobby that you haven't done for a few years, like playing the trumpet. You might find yourself a bit rusty the next time you pick one up - or maybe you've forgotten altogether! Muscles are another example. They will waste away without use. In order to counteract this, people take regular exercise to keep their skills sharp.
用进废退,至少古谚语是这么说的。这句话的意思是一些没有被经常利用的东西很快就会进入衰退状态。例如,一个你几年没做的爱好,比如吹小号。下次再想重新开始的时候,你可能会发现自己有点生疏了——或者你可能已经完全忘记了!肌肉是另一个例子,不使用就会消退。为了防止这样的情况发生,人们经常锻炼保持肌肉性能。
Well, what about the brain? As we age, our brains can naturally begin to decline. In some cases this can lead to certain mental conditions such as dementia, which I'm sure you will agree, no one wants. However, all is not lost because these days it's relatively easy to train your brain. Smartphones and apps have put programmes into our hands that can test, maintain and even augment our memories, mathematical skills, logic skills and a raft of other mental abilities. With a little practice every day, we can keep our brains nice and sharp, right?
那么,大脑呢?随着年龄的增长,我们的大脑自然会开始衰退。在某些情况下,这可能会导致某些精神疾病,如痴呆。我相信你会同意这个观点,没有人想变痴呆。然而,并不是所有的功能都衰退了,因为现在做脑部训练相对比较简单。我们通过智能手机和应用程序将程序玩弄于股掌之间,这些程序可以测试、维护甚至增强我们的记忆力、数学技能、逻辑技能和一系列其他心智能力。每天练习一点,就可以保持我们的大脑良好和敏锐,对吗?
Well, no, actually. According to a report from the Global Council on Brain Health, even though many people thought it was important to play online games, such as puzzles and mind games, which are designed to improve brain health, the evidence of the benefits was "weak to non-existent". Playing a 'brain game' may lead to improvements in game performance, but this has yet to show a convincing result in people's daily cognitive abilities. In other words, doing hundreds of sudoku puzzles might make you a sudoku wizard, but it doesn't necessarily improve your ability to do your accounting.
嗯,实际上不是的。根据全球大脑健康委员会的一份报告,尽管许多人认为玩在线游戏很重要,比如益智游戏。这些游戏的目的是改善大脑健康,但能证明其益处的证据“微弱到不存在”。玩“脑力游戏”可能会提高游戏表现,但这还没有在人们的日常认知能力上显示出令人信服的结果。换句话说,做几百个数独游戏或许能让你成为数独高手,但这并不一定能提高你的计算能力。
It's not all doom and gloom though. There are other ways to stimulate the old grey matter. It recommends seeking out new activities that challenge the way you think and are socially engaging, while leading to a healthy lifestyle. Among their suggestions are practising tai chi, taking photography classes, learning new technologies, gardening, art projects or volunteering.
但前景也不尽然如此悲观。还有其他方法可以刺激陈旧的灰质。研究建议寻找新的活动,挑战思维方式和社交参与,同时走向健康的生活方式。他们的建议包括练习太极、上摄影课、学习新技术、园艺、艺术项目或志愿服务。
There's more good news, too. James Goodwin, chief scientist at Age UK has said that brain decline is not inevitable. As long as the activities are "new to you and require your concentrated attention", they can provide benefits for brain health. So, make haste, get out there and try something new. Maybe it's time to try that hobby you've always wanted to do. And as for me? I'm off to learn the piano.
还有更多的好消息。《英国时代》首席科学家詹姆斯·古德温表示,大脑衰退并非不可避免。只要这些活动“对你来说是新的,需要你集中注意力”,它们就能对大脑健康有益。所以,赶快走出去,尝试一些新的东西。也许是时候试试你一直想做的爱好了。至于我? 我要去学钢琴了。
词汇表
aphorism
格言
utilise
利用,使用
a state of decline
退化、衰退的状态
rusty
(因长期不去做而)生疏的
altogether
彻底地,全部地
waste away
逐渐衰退
counteract
对抗,抵消
keep sharp
保持(技术)熟练;保持(头脑)敏锐
augment
增强、加强
a raft of
许多,大量
non-existent
不存在的
cognitive
认知的
wizard
能手,“达人”
doom and gloom
前景悲观,一片黯淡
stimulate
促进(身体某部位的)功能
grey matter
“灰质”,头脑
inevitable
不可避免的
make haste
(旧式说法)快点