TED英语演讲:微笑背后隐藏的力量

 When I was a child, I always wanted to be a superhero. I wanted to save the world and then make everyone happy. But I knew that I'd need superpowers to make my dreams come true. So I used to embark 1 on these imaginary journeys to find intergalactic objects from planet Krypton, which was a lot of fun, but didn't get much result. When I grew up, and realized that science-fiction was not a good source for superpowers, I decided 2 instead to embark on a journey of real science, to find a more useful truth.我童年时，一直想成为一位超级英雄，我想拯救世界，让每个人都快乐，但我知道需要超能力才能让我的梦想成真，所以我展开这些想象之旅，到克利普顿星（超人的家乡）寻找星际间的天体。这很有趣，但没什么成果。当我长大后，了解到科幻小说不是超能力的好来源，我决定展开一场真正的科学之旅，寻找更有用的真理。

I started my journey in California with a UC Berkley 30-year longitudinal study that examined the photos of students in an old yearbook and tried to measure their success and well-being 3 throughout their life. By measuring their student smiles, researchers were able to predict how fulfilling and long-lasting a subject's marriage will be, how well she would score on standardized 4 tests of well-being and how inspiring she would be to others. In another yearbook, I stumbled upon Barry Obama's picture. When I first saw his picture, I thought that these superpowers came from his super collar. But now I know it was all in his smile.我的旅程开始于加州，以柏克莱大学从事30年期的纵贯研究，研究一本旧年鉴中的学生照片，试着衡量他们一生的成就和幸福。藉由衡量学生的微笑，研究人员能够预测研究对象的婚姻是否圆满及长久，他在标准化幸福评量中能得到多少分，以及他能为别人带来多少启发。在另一本年鉴中，我偶然发现了欧巴马的照片，当我第一次看到他的照片时，我认为这些超能力来自于他的超大衣领，但现在我知道这全来自于他的笑容。
Another aha! moment came from a 2010 Wayne State University research project that looked into pre-1950s baseball cards of Major League players. The researchers found that the span of a players smile could actually predict the span of his life. Players who didn't smile in their pictures lived an average of only 72.9 years, where players with beaming smiles lived an average of almost 80 years.
另一个啊哈！时刻，来自2010年Wayne州立大学的研究项目，观察50年代前职棒大联盟球员的棒球卡，研究人员发现，球员微笑的宽度事实上可以预测他寿命的长度，相片中没有笑容的球员，平均寿命仅72.9岁，拥有灿烂笑容的球员，平均寿命将近80岁。
(Laughter)（笑声）
The good news is that we're actually born smiling. Using 3D ultrasound technology, we can now see that developing babies appear to smile, even in the womb. When they're born, babies continue to smile -- initially 5, mostly in their sleep. And even blind babies smile to the sound of the human voice. Smiling is one of the most basic, biologically-uniform expressions of all humans.
In studies conducted in Papua New Guinea, Paul Ekman, the world's most renowned 6 researcher on facial expressions, found that even members of the Fore 7 tribe, who were completely disconnected from Western culture, and also known for their unusual cannibalism 8 rituals, attributed smiles to descriptions of situations the same way you and I would. So from Papau New Guinea to Hollywood all the way to modern art in Beijing, we smile often, and you smile to express joy and satisfaction.
在巴布亚新几内亚进行的研究中，Paul Ekman，世界上最知名的脸部表情研究者发现，即使是Fore部落中的成员，他们完全与西方文化隔绝，也因他们不寻常的吃人仪式而众所皆知，他们就像你我一样，也会在某些情况下微笑。因此，从巴布亚新几内亚到好莱坞，一直到北京的现代艺术，我们经常微笑着。你用微笑来表达喜悦和满足。
How many people here in this room smile more than 20 times per day? Raise your hand if you do. Oh, wow. Outside of this room, more than a third of us smile more than 20 times per day, whereas less than 14 percent of us smile less than five. In fact, those with the most amazing superpowers are actually children who smile as many as 400 times per day.
在这房间里，有多少人每天微笑超过20次？如果有的话请举起手。哦，哇！在这个房间外，超过三分之一的人每天微笑超过20次，不到14%的人每天微笑少于5次。事实上，拥有最惊人超能力的是孩童，他们每天微笑多达400次。
Have you ever wondered why being around children who smile so frequently makes you smile very often? A recent study at Uppsala University in Sweden found that it's very difficult to frown when looking at someone who smiles. You ask, why? Because smiling is evolutionarily contagious 9, and it suppresses the control we usually have on our facial muscles. Mimicking 11 a smile and experiencing it physically 12 help us understand whether our smile is fake or real, so we can understand the emotional state of the smiler. 
你有没有想过，为什么身处在经常微笑的孩子身边，也会让你经常微笑？最近在瑞典Uppsala大学的一项研究发现，当看着正在微笑的人时是很难皱眉的。你会问为什么？因为微笑具有演化上的感染性，它能抑制我们平时对脸部肌肉的控制，模仿一个微笑并实际体验它，帮助我们了解我们的微笑是假是真，因此我们可以了解微笑者的情绪状态。
In a recent mimicking study at the University of Clermont-Ferrand in France, subjects were asked to determine whether a smile was real or fake while holding a pencil in their mouth to repress smiling muscles. Without the pencil, subjects were excellent judges, But with the pencil in their mouth, when they could not mimic 10 the smile they saw, their judgment 13 was impaired 14.
最近在法国Clermont-Ferrand大学的一次模仿研究中，要求测试对象在口中含住一支铅笔抑制微笑肌肉时，判断一个微笑是真是假。不含住铅笔时测试对象有优秀的判断力，但当他们口中含着铅笔时，就无法模仿他们看到的笑容，他们的判断力就会受损。
(Laughter)（笑声）
In addition to theorizing on evolution in "The Origin of Species", Charles Darwin also wrote the facial feedback response theory. His theory states that the act of smiling itself actually makes us feel better -- rather than smiling being merely a result of feeling good. In his study, Darwin actually cited a French neurologist, Guillaume Duchenne, who used electric jolts 15 to facial muscles to induce and stimulate 16 smiles. Please, don't try this at home.
除了在《物种起源》中阐述进化论以外，达尔文还写了脸部回馈理论。他的理论阐述，微笑这个行为本身，事实上能让我们感觉更好，而不仅是感觉不错的一个结果。在他的研究中，达尔文事实上引用了法国神经学家Guillaume Duchenne的实验，他使用电刺激脸部肌肉，诱发及激起微笑产生。请不要在家里尝试这个。
(Laughter)（笑声）
In a related German study, researchers used fMRI imaging to measure brain activity before and after injecting Botox to suppress smiling muscles. The finding supported Darwin's theory by showing that facial feedback modifies the neural 17 processing of emotional content in the brain in a way that helps us feel better when we smile. Smiling stimulates 18 our brain reward mechanism 19 in a way that even chocolate -- a well-regarded pleasure inducer -- cannot match.
在德国一项相关研究中，研究人员使用功能性核磁共振造影（fMRI），拍摄在注射肉毒杆菌抑制微笑肌肉前后，对大脑活动进行测量的照片，这个发现支持达尔文的理论，显示当我们微笑时，脸部回馈会改变大脑中情绪部份的神经处理程序，在某种程度上帮助我们感觉更好。微笑刺激我们的大脑奖励机制，在某种程度上，甚至连巧克力，一个公认的快乐诱导物，都无法比拟。
British researchers found that one smile can generate the same level of brain stimulation 20 as up to 2,000 bars of chocolate. (Laughter) Wait. The same study found that smiling is as stimulating 21 as receiving up to 16,000 pounds Sterling 22 in cash. That's like 25 grand a smile. It's not bad. And think about it this way: 25,000 times 400 -- quite a few kids out there feel like mark Zuckerberg every day.
英国研究人员发现，一个微笑可以使大脑产生与2000根巧克力棒相同程度的刺激。（笑声）等等，同样的研究发现，微笑造成的刺激跟得到16000英镑现金相同，一个微笑就像25000美金，还不错。再想想看，25000乘以400，世上不少孩子每天都有像Mark Zuckerberg的感觉（facebook创办人）。
And, unlike lots of chocolate, lots of smiling can actually make you healthier. Smiling can help reduce the level of stress-enhancing hormones 23 like cortisol, adrenaline and dopamine, increase the level of mood-enhancing hormones like endorphin and reduce overall blood pressure.
而且，不像一大堆巧克力，大量微笑事实上可以让你更健康。微笑可以帮助降低提升压力荷尔蒙的含量，如皮质醇、肾上腺素和多巴胺，增加提升情绪荷尔蒙的含量，如脑内啡，并降低整体血压。
And if that's not enough, smiling can actually look good in the eyes of others. A recent study at Penn State University found that when you smile you don't only appear to be more likable and courteous 24, but you actually appear to be more competent.
如果这还不够，微笑事实上可以使你在他人眼中看起来更好。最近一项在宾州州立大学的研究发现，当你微笑时，你不仅显得更可爱、更有礼貌，事实上你会显得更能干。
So whenever you want to look great and competent, reduce your stress or improve your marriage, or feel as if you just had a whole stack of high-quality chocolate -- without incurring 25 the caloric cost -- or as if you found 25 grand in a pocket of an old jacket you hadn't worn for ages, or whenever you want to tap into a superpower that will help you and everyone around you live a longer, healthier, happier life, smile.
所以，当你想看起来很棒、很能干、减少你的压力，或改善你的婚姻，或想要感觉像是吃了一堆高质量巧克力，而不需承受热量的代价，或彷佛在一件多年没穿的旧夹克口袋中发现二万五千元，或当你想使用超能力帮助自己和周围每个人活得更长久、更健康、生活得更幸福，微笑吧！
(Applause)（掌声）




点击收听单词发音  






1
embark

  
 


vi.乘船，着手，从事，上飞机


参考例句：





He is about to embark on a new business venture.他就要开始新的商业冒险活动。
Many people embark for Europe at New York harbor.许多人在纽约港乘船去欧洲。












2
decided

  
 


adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的


参考例句：





This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。












3
well-being

  
 


n.安康，安乐，幸福


参考例句：





He always has the well-being of the masses at heart.他总是把群众的疾苦挂在心上。
My concern for their well-being was misunderstood as interference.我关心他们的幸福，却被误解为多管闲事。












4
standardized

  
 


adj.标准化的


参考例句：





We use standardized tests to measure scholastic achievement. 我们用标准化考试来衡量学生的学业成绩。
The parts of an automobile are standardized. 汽车零件是标准化了的。












5
initially

  
 


adv.最初，开始


参考例句：





The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。












6
renowned

  
 


adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的


参考例句：





He is one of the world's renowned writers.他是世界上知名的作家之一。
She is renowned for her advocacy of human rights.她以提倡人权而闻名。












7
fore

  
 


adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部


参考例句：





Your seat is in the fore part of the aircraft.你的座位在飞机的前部。
I have the gift of fore knowledge.我能够未卜先知。












8
cannibalism

  
 


n.同类相食；吃人肉


参考例句：





The war is just like the cannibalism of animals.战争就如同动物之间的互相残。
They were forced to practise cannibalism in order to survive.他们被迫人吃人以求活下去。












9
contagious

  
 


adj.传染性的，有感染力的


参考例句：





It's a highly contagious infection.这种病极易传染。
He's got a contagious laugh.他的笑富有感染力。












10
mimic

  
 


v.模仿，戏弄；n.模仿他人言行的人


参考例句：





A parrot can mimic a person's voice.鹦鹉能学人的声音。
He used to mimic speech peculiarities of another.他过去总是模仿别人讲话的特点。












11
mimicking

  
 


v.（尤指为了逗乐而）模仿( mimic的现在分词 )；酷似


参考例句：





She's always mimicking the teachers. 她总喜欢模仿老师的言谈举止。
The boy made us all laugh by mimicking the teacher's voice. 这男孩模仿老师的声音，逗得我们大家都笑了。 来自辞典例句












12
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。












13
judgment

  
 


n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见


参考例句：





The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。












14
impaired

  
 


adj.受损的；出毛病的；有（身体或智力）缺陷的v.损害，削弱( impair的过去式和过去分词 )


参考例句：





Much reading has impaired his vision. 大量读书损害了他的视力。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
His hearing is somewhat impaired. 他的听觉已受到一定程度的损害。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》












15
jolts

  
 


（使）摇动， （使）震惊( jolt的名词复数 )


参考例句：





He found that out when he got a few terrific jolts, but he wouldn't give up. 被狠狠地撞回来几次后，他发觉了这一点，但他决不因此罢休。
Some power bars are loaded with carbohydrates or caffeine for quick jolts. 有些能量条中包含大量的碳水化合物和咖啡因，以达到快速提神的效果。












16
stimulate

  
 


vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋


参考例句：





Your encouragement will stimulate me to further efforts.你的鼓励会激发我进一步努力。
Success will stimulate the people for fresh efforts.成功能鼓舞人们去作新的努力。












17
neural

  
 


adj.神经的，神经系统的


参考例句：





The neural network can preferably solve the non- linear problem.利用神经网络建模可以较好地解决非线性问题。
The information transmission in neural system depends on neurotransmitters.信息传递的神经途径有赖于神经递质。












18
stimulates

  
 


v.刺激( stimulate的第三人称单数 )；激励；使兴奋；起兴奋作用，起刺激作用，起促进作用


参考例句：





Exercise stimulates the body. 运动促进身体健康。 来自《简明英汉词典》
Alcohol stimulates the action of the heart. 酒刺激心脏的活动。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》












19
mechanism

  
 


n.机械装置；机构，结构


参考例句：





The bones and muscles are parts of the mechanism of the body.骨骼和肌肉是人体的组成部件。
The mechanism of the machine is very complicated.这台机器的结构是非常复杂的。












20
stimulation

  
 


n.刺激，激励，鼓舞


参考例句：





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。












21
stimulating

  
 


adj.有启发性的，能激发人思考的


参考例句：





shower gel containing plant extracts that have a stimulating effect on the skin 含有对皮肤有益的植物精华的沐浴凝胶
This is a drug for stimulating nerves. 这是一种兴奋剂。












22
sterling

  
 


adj.英币的(纯粹的，货真价实的)；n.英国货币(英镑)


参考例句：





Could you tell me the current rate for sterling, please?能否请您告诉我现行英国货币的兑换率？
Sterling has recently been strong,which will help to abate inflationary pressures.英国货币最近非常坚挺，这有助于减轻通胀压力。












23
hormones

  
 


n. 荷尔蒙，激素
名词hormone的复数形式


参考例句：





This hormone interacts closely with other hormones in the body. 这种荷尔蒙与体內其他荷尔蒙紧密地相互作用。
The adrenals produce a large per cent of a man's sex hormones. 肾上腺分泌人体的大部分性激素。












24
courteous

  
 


adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的


参考例句：





Although she often disagreed with me,she was always courteous.尽管她常常和我意见不一，但她总是很谦恭有礼。
He was a kind and courteous man.他为人友善，而且彬彬有礼。












25
incurring

  
 


遭受，招致，引起( incur的现在分词 )


参考例句：





Many of the world's farmers are also incurring economic deficits. 世界上许多农民还在遭受经济上的亏损。
He spoke to the Don directly, taking a chance on incurring Michael's ill will. 他直接向老头子谈自己的意见，这显然要冒引起迈克尔反感的风险。 来自教父部分