VOA常速英语2008年-Study Finds Brain Stimulation May Improve Memor
时间：2019-02-04 作者：英语课 分类：VOA常速英语2008年（二月）
Washington, DC
01 February 2008
Medical researchers in Canada say a brain stimulation 1 procedure used to treat people with Parkinson's and other diseases could help restore the memory of dementia patients. The researchers stumbled upon the discovery when the technique unexpectedly brought back detailed 2 memories in one patient. VOA's Alex Villarreal has more.
Surgeons at Toronto Western Hospital had hoped that delivering electrical signals to a brain area called the hypothalamus would regulate the appetite of a 50-year-old morbidly 3 obese 4 man.
The technique, called deep brain stimulation, uses a surgically-implanted device to shoot an electrical pulse into targeted areas of the brain while the patient remains 5 conscious.
Dr. Ali Rezai, of the Cleveland Clinic, explains, "The language of the brain is electricity. By applying electrical currents we can actually shut down different parts of the brain or activate 6 different parts of the brain."
But in the middle of the operation, something surprising happened. The patient suddenly experienced a flood of detailed memories from an incident decades before.
"He reported he was in a park, that he was with his friends, he recognized the people and he recognized what they were saying. As we increased the intensity 7 of the stimulation, more of the details filled in," says Dr. Andres Lozano.
Later tests revealed the patient's memory improved while his brain was being stimulated 8. And after three weeks of constant stimulation, he performed significantly higher on learning tests.
"This is the first time that this area of the brain has been implanted in that an effect on memory has been witnessed," Dr. Lozano said.
Deep brain stimulation is most commonly used to treat movement disorders 9, such as Parkinson's disease, helping 10 patients with severe tremors 11. It also can help victims of chronic 12 pain and depression.
With this new discovery, researchers are now testing the procedure as a way to restore memories in patients with Alzheimer's.
- 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。
- He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
- A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。
- As a result, the mice became morbidly obese and diabetic. 结果，老鼠呈现为病态肥胖和糖尿病。 来自互联网
- He was morbidly fascinated by dead bodies. 他对尸体着魔到近乎病态的程度。 来自互联网
- The old man is really obese,it can't be healthy.那位老人确实过于肥胖了，不能算是健康。
- Being obese and lazy is dangerous to health.又胖又懒危害健康。
- He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
- The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。
- We must activate the youth to study.我们要激励青年去学习。
- These push buttons can activate the elevator.这些按钮能启动电梯。
- I didn't realize the intensity of people's feelings on this issue.我没有意识到这一问题能引起群情激奋。
- The strike is growing in intensity.罢工日益加剧。
- The exhibition has stimulated interest in her work. 展览增进了人们对她作品的兴趣。
- The award has stimulated her into working still harder. 奖金促使她更加努力地工作。
- Reports of anorexia and other eating disorders are on the increase. 据报告，厌食症和其他饮食方面的功能紊乱发生率正在不断增长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The announcement led to violent civil disorders. 这项宣布引起剧烈的骚乱。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
- By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
- The story was so terrible that It'sent tremors down my spine. 这故事太可怕，它使我不寒而栗。
- The story was so terrible that it sent tremors down my spine. 这故事太可怕，它使我不寒而栗。