TED演讲:我们为什么做梦(2)

 　　We dream to keep our brains working. 我们为了保证大脑运转而做梦。

　　The continual activation¹ theory proposes that 持续激活理论提出，

　　your dreams result from your brain's need to constantly consolidate² and create long-term memories in order to function properly. 你做梦是由于你的大脑为了有效运转需要持续不断地巩固和创造长期记忆。

　　So when external input³ falls below a certain level, like when you're asleep, 因此，当外界的输入低于一个特定水平时，例如你在睡觉时，

　　your brain automatically triggers the generation of data from its memory storages,  你的大脑会自动触发记忆库里的数据形成，

　　which appear to you in the form of the thoughts and feelings you experience in your dreams. 而这些在你看来就是你在梦里的想法和感受。

　　In other words, your dreams might be a random⁴ screen saver your brain turns on so it doesn't completely shut down. 换句话说，你的梦也许是个大脑运转时的随机保护程序，所以大脑并不会完全停止运转。

　　We dream to rehearse. 我们为了预演而做梦。

　　Dreams involving dangerous and threatening situations are very common, 梦经常包含危险和恐怖的情景，

　　and the primitive⁵ instinct rehearsal⁶ theory holds that the content of a dream is significant to its purpose. 而原始本能理论认为梦的内容对于它的目的来说非常重要。

　　Whether it's an anxiety-filled night of being chased through the woods by a bear or fighting off a ninja in a dark alley,  无论是一个在森林中被熊追着跑的紧张夜晚，还是在幽暗的山谷中击退一个日本武士，

　　these dreams allow you to practice your fight or flight instincts 这些梦允许你锻炼战斗或逃跑的本能，

　　and keep them sharp and dependable in case you'll need them in real life. 而且保证万一在现实中需要它们时，能保持一定的敏锐度和可靠性。

　　But it doesn't always have to be unpleasant. 不过梦也不一定总是不愉快的。

　　For instance, dreams about your attractive neighbor could actually give your reproductive instinct some practice, too. 比如，梦到你魅力无限的邻居可能会给你的生殖本能带来一定的锻炼。

　　We dream to heal. 我们为了治愈而做梦。

　　Stress neurotransmitters in the brain are much less active during the REM stage of sleep, 压力神经传导物质在快速眼动睡眠时期会表现得非常不活跃，

　　even during dreams of traumatic experiences, 即使是梦到受伤的经历，

　　leading some researchers to theorize that one purpose of dreaming is to take the edge off painful experiences to allow for psychological healing. 这一现象导致研究人员推测梦的一个目的是减弱不好经历带来的痛苦，以达到心理治疗的目的。

　　Reviewing traumatic events in your dreams with less mental stress 在梦中以更小的精神压力回顾创伤性事件，

　　may grant you a clearer perspective and enhanced ability to process them in psychologically healthy ways. 可能会给你一个更加清晰透彻的看法，以及增强你积极乐观地面对它们的能力。

　　People with certain mood disorders⁸ and PTSD often have difficulty sleeping, 有特定情绪失常和创伤后应激障碍的人可能很难入睡，

　　leading some scientists to believe that lack of dreaming may be a contributing factor to their illnesses. 这一现象导致一些科学家开始相信，缺乏做梦可能是加重他们病情的一个因素。

　　We dream to solve problems. 我们为了解决问题而做梦。

　　Unconstrained by reality and the rules of conventional logic⁷, in your dreams, 不受现实生活和常规逻辑的约束，

　　your mind can create limitless scenarios⁹ to help you grasp problems 你的梦可能会产生无限的场景来帮助你把握问题，

　　and formulate¹⁰ solutions that you may not consider while awake. 以及形成你醒着的时候完全不会考虑到的解决方法。

　　John Steinbeck called it the committee of sleep, 约翰·斯坦贝克把它称为睡眠委员会，

　　and research has demonstrated the effectiveness of dreaming on problem solving. 而研究人员也已证实做梦在解决问题上的有效性。

　　It's also how renowned¹¹ chemist August Kekule discovered the structure of the benzene molecule¹², 这也就是为什么著名的化学家奥古斯特·凯库勒发现了苯分子的结构，

　　and it's the reason that sometimes the best solution for a problem is to sleep on it. 也是为什么有些时候解决一个问题的最好办法就是睡一觉。

　　And those are just a few of the more prominent theories. 这里也有一些更为突出的理论。

　　As technology increases our capability¹³ for understanding the brain, 当科技增强了我们理解大脑的能力之后，

　　it's possible that one day we will discover the definitive¹⁴ reason for them. 有一天我们有可能会发现梦存在的真正原因。

　　But until that time arrives, we'll just have to keep on dreaming. 但是直到那一天到来之前，我们仍旧需要不停地做梦。

1 activation   

n. 激活，催化作用

参考例句：

• A computer controls the activation of an air bag.电脑控制着气囊的启动。

2 consolidate   

v.使加固，使加强；(把...)联为一体，合并

参考例句：

• The two banks will consolidate in July next year. 这两家银行明年7月将合并。
• The government hoped to consolidate ten states to form three new ones.政府希望把十个州合并成三个新的州。

3 input   

n.输入(物)；投入；vt.把(数据等)输入计算机

参考例句：

• I will forever be grateful for his considerable input.我将永远感激他的大量投入。
• All this information had to be input onto the computer.所有这些信息都必须输入计算机。

4 random   

adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动

参考例句：

• The list is arranged in a random order.名单排列不分先后。
• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。

5 primitive   

adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物

参考例句：

• It is a primitive instinct to flee a place of danger.逃离危险的地方是一种原始本能。
• His book describes the march of the civilization of a primitive society.他的著作描述了一个原始社会的开化过程。

6 rehearsal   

n.排练，排演；练习

参考例句：

• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。
• You can sharpen your skills with rehearsal.排练可以让技巧更加纯熟。

7 logic   

n.逻辑(学)；逻辑性

参考例句：

• What sort of logic is that?这是什么逻辑？
• I don't follow the logic of your argument.我不明白你的论点逻辑性何在。

8 disorders   

n.混乱( disorder的名词复数 )；凌乱；骚乱；（身心、机能）失调

参考例句：

• 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》

9 scenarios   

n.[意]情节；剧本；事态；脚本

参考例句：

• Further, graphite cores may be safer than non-graphite cores under some accident scenarios. 再者，根据一些事故解说，石墨堆芯可比非石墨堆芯更安全一些。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
• Again, scenarios should make it clear which modes are acceptable to users in various contexts. 同样，我们可以运用场景剧本来搞清楚在不同情境下哪些模式可被用户接受。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

10 formulate   

v.用公式表示；规划；设计；系统地阐述

参考例句：

• He took care to formulate his reply very clearly.他字斟句酌，清楚地做了回答。
• I was impressed by the way he could formulate his ideas.他陈述观点的方式让我印象深刻。

11 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。

12 molecule   

n.分子，克分子

参考例句：

• A molecule of water is made up of two atoms of hygrogen and one atom of oxygen.一个水分子是由P妈̬f婘̬ 妈̬成的。
• This gives us the structural formula of the molecule.这种方式给出了分子的结构式。

13 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

14 definitive   

adj.确切的，权威性的；最后的，决定性的

参考例句：

• This book is the definitive guide to world cuisine.这本书是世界美食的权威指南。
• No one has come up with a definitive answer as to why this should be so.至于为什么该这样，还没有人给出明确的答复。