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
5-second delays
ablaqueate
accrued revenues and expenses basis
acid rebound
altar-boy
anaphoric pronoun
Arab Republic of Egypt
armorially
as far as possible
badical
bebothered
bipartite graphs
borrominis
brachial plexus anesthesial
cable work
calamite (tremolite)
Cilfomide
cognitive-behavioural
complete frost
Constantin Brancusi
corrosive nature
coumed
cross compound turbine
decentralizations
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early summer
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flavovirus
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gelatinized flour
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Heinkel
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hydrogenation plant
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liability of the shipowner
Maberly
maieutologist
major study
management fraud
maximum conversion
Motosu
multibus processor
multidowncomer tray
Mālancha
Neptunians
neuropsychiatries
nonlinear network analysis program
notched izod test
orthohepadnavirus woodchuck hepatitis b virus
philosophical standard of pitch
piscetarians
pole instrument
polymethylmethacrylate
postdoctorate
potamochoeruss
present price
pulsed solid stale laser
quantum dot
quarterwind
reason that
recipe for disaster
rehm
repentest
reside
road burn
salmon loaves
SC-29333
scutter
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setting-out of side plumb-bob
shock of glottis
sing woe
skeleton map
slip up operator
strap ... in
streptoco
Sunbury shale
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tapioca
the depths of winter
the virgin mary
Tilia henryana
tonguejob
tragedious
tridermic tumor
triple-pole single throw
vapor deposited case
vertical drawing process
violin-family