时间:2019-01-13 作者:英语课 分类:VOA标准英语2008年(十月)


英语课
Scientists in Australia are developing a thinking cap that could unlock our hidden genius, by switching on and off certain sections of the brain. Researchers at the University of Sydney think their experiments show that we all have hidden creative talents. From Sydney, Phil Mercer reports.

Imagine a cap that could make us smarter and more creative.
 






Professor Allan Snyder



Professor Allan Snyder at the University of Sydney is developing just such a device.

He thinks we all have hidden talents, but we have trouble tapping into them.

His research is in its early stages. The idea is to switch off parts of the brain to help unlock the genius that lies dormant 1.

"The two things that drive me - I'm passionate 2 about understanding the architecture of thought," he explained. "Why are we wired up the way we are? Not how we are wired up but what is the master plan, the architectural plan. And the second thing, of course, I'm fascinated by wanting to have a true vision of the world. I mean, we make hypotheses of what is out there. Wouldn't it be nice to see what really is out there?"

He is working on device that is based on research into savants who have extraordinary talents as well as severe mental disability. They appear as if one part of the brain has been subdued 3 so that the other can be more dominant 4.

The aim is to make a thinking cap that could unleash 5 creativity when it was needed, such as when we are tired or under pressure and lack inspiration.

The cap uses tiny magnets to change the process by which we think. Tests have shown that it can improve artistic 6 and mathematical ability by turning off the part of the brain that controls our innate 7 view of the world.

The magnets let the brain experience raw sensory 8 information, untainted by preconceptions - just as a child might see the world.

Researchers think that this technique, known as trans-cranial magnetic stimulation 9, could also be useful in treating depression.



adj.暂停活动的;休眠的;潜伏的
  • Many animals are in a dormant state during winter.在冬天许多动物都处于睡眠状态。
  • This dormant volcano suddenly fired up.这座休眠火山突然爆发了。
adj.热情的,热烈的,激昂的,易动情的,易怒的,性情暴躁的
  • He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
  • He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。
adj.支配的,统治的;占优势的;显性的;n.主因,要素,主要的人(或物);显性基因
  • The British were formerly dominant in India.英国人从前统治印度。
  • She was a dominant figure in the French film industry.她在法国电影界是个举足轻重的人物。
vt.发泄,发出;解带子放开
  • They hope to create allies to unleash against diseases,pests,and invasive species.他们希望创造出一些新群体来对付疾病、害虫和一些有侵害性的物种。
  • Changing water levels now at times unleash a miasma of disease from exposed sewage.如今,大坝不时地改变水位,从暴露的污水释放出了疾病瘴气。
adj.艺术(家)的,美术(家)的;善于艺术创作的
  • The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
  • These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。
adj.天生的,固有的,天赋的
  • You obviously have an innate talent for music.你显然有天生的音乐才能。
  • Correct ideas are not innate in the mind.人的正确思想不是自己头脑中固有的。
adj.知觉的,感觉的,知觉器官的
  • Human powers of sensory discrimination are limited.人类感官分辨能力有限。
  • The sensory system may undergo long-term adaptation in alien environments.感觉系统对陌生的环境可能经过长时期才能适应。
n.刺激,激励,鼓舞
  • The playgroup provides plenty of stimulation for the children.幼儿游戏组给孩子很多启发。
  • You don't get any intellectual stimulation in this job.你不能从这份工作中获得任何智力启发。
学英语单词
2-Nonanol
adazzle
anchoring accessary
as fit as a flea
atmospheric perturbation
back-off angle
bar stock turnover device
bar to patent grant
barefooter
barrichelloes
benesse
Breage
Bupleurum candollei
butyl-nor-sympatol
calibrated altitude
cast round
Chamaesiphon
chang-wens
clofibric acid
coiled finned-tube type cooler
combined metal oxide semiconductor
de falla
degradation of soil
dipchicks
diphenylmercury
DNU
Einstein massenergy relation
electrolytic surface grinder
energy collection optics
entomargianl fissure
envelope level for modulated vision signal
environmental pollution regulation
essential colo(u)r
fagus grandifolias
falaj
film factor
fixed ship station
genus ramphomicrons
gnomologies
Hailākāndi
heuberger
hierarchy configuration
hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis
iavolenus
in the pit of one's stomach
inquiry month
jute pulp
kobsus kobs
lanthanum glass
lever brake
lidens
lime-wash nozzle
Luzula
market reconsolidation
mega-flop
mercury cyanide
missile-related
naqvis
nerve tract
never ending
non celebrity
not half bad
nothing more or less than
observed temperature
ossipyte(ossipite)
Otter Tail L.
pattern of variability
pericardectomies
plumb the depths of sth
rapid random access memory
raster scan
re-Schick
recommended rate of fertillizer application
rerails
retrieve data
riss glacial period
running surface of wheeltrack
Sadleria
semi-automatic gas-cutting machine
sex-slaves
sieveskingraft
smokeasies
soft landing
soil consistence
split stitch
sulfathiodiazole
super-league
surface approximation
surface wind speed
synchro-mating punch
tack rag
tetragonal hemihedral class
the Isle of Skye
theoretical error of optical range-finder
trichloroacetic aldehyde
tripartisms
unbalanced brake
uncognoscibility
water curtain system
wellstar
zero cross