TED演讲:那些盘旋在你脑海里的歌曲(3)

 　　When we listen to a song we know, we're constantly hearing forward in time, anticipating the next note. 当我们听着一首熟悉的歌，我们经常听到比当下正播放的要更后面，预料着下一个音符。

　　It's hard for us to think about one particular musical moment in isolation¹. 单单想着一个特定的音乐桥段对我们来说是困难的。

　　If we want to think about the pitch of the word "you" in "Happy Birthday," 假使我们要去想 "you" 这个字在生日快乐歌里的音调，

　　we have to start back at "Happy," and sing through until we get to "you." 我们必须回到"Happy"来开始一直唱下去，直到我们唱到"you"。

　　In this way, a tune² is sort of like a habit. 这样来说曲调就有一点像是一个习惯。

　　Just like once you start tying your shoe, 就好像是打从你开始绑鞋带

　　you're on automatic until you tighten³ the bow, once a tune is suggested because,  直到你绑好蝴蝶节前是不假思索的，一但想到某个调子，

　　for example, someone says, "my umbrella," 例如因为某人说了“My unbrella”

　　we have to play through until it reaches a natural stopping point, "ella, ella, ella." 我们就得在脑中播放歌曲，直到唱到了原本的停顿处。

　　But this is largely speculation⁴. 不过这充其量也只是一个猜测。

　　The basic fact remains⁵ we don't know exactly why we're susceptible⁶ to earworms. 事实上我们仍未确切地明白为什么我们会这么容易受到耳朵虫的影响。

　　But understanding them better could give us important clues to the workings of the human brain. 但是更清楚认识它们可以给我们有关人类大脑运作的重要线索。

　　Maybe the next time we're plagued by a Taylor Swift tune that just won't go away,  也许下回我们受扰于盘踞于脑内久久不去的泰勒歌曲，

　　we'll use it as the starting point for a scientific odyssey⁷ that will unlock important mysteries about basic cognition. 我们会利用它来当一段科学旅程的开端，那将会解开基本认知的重大迷团。

　　And if not, well, we can just shake it off. 假若不行，我们就忘了它吧。

1 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

2 tune   

n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整

参考例句：

• He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子，并在钢琴上弹给我们听。
• The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。

3 tighten   

v.(使)变紧；(使)绷紧

参考例句：

• Turn the screw to the right to tighten it.向右转动螺钉把它拧紧。
• Some countries tighten monetary policy to avoid inflation.一些国家实行紧缩银根的货币政策，以避免通货膨胀。

4 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

5 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• 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。

6 susceptible   

adj.过敏的，敏感的；易动感情的，易受感动的

参考例句：

• Children are more susceptible than adults.孩子比成人易受感动。
• We are all susceptible to advertising.我们都易受广告的影响。

7 odyssey   

n.长途冒险旅行；一连串的冒险

参考例句：

• The march to Travnik was the final stretch of a 16-hour odyssey.去特拉夫尼克的这段路是长达16小时艰险旅行的最后一程。
• His odyssey of passion, friendship,love,and revenge was now finished.他的热情、友谊、爱情和复仇的漫长历程，到此结束了。