大千世界:迷失在书里

Yaël: Hey Don, whatcha reading? Don? Don! Don: Huh? Y: I asked what book you're reading. D: Oh, sorry. I guess I was lost in the story. Y: That's OK. That's what a good story will do, right? In fact, there's a study that explains what's going on the brain when we get caught up in a story. D: Do tell. Y: Basically, according to the study, when you read a story that engages you, your brain creates detailed¹ and vivid simulations of the details in the story. D: You mean that when I'm reading, my brain is activated² as though I'm actually doing the things I'm reading about? Y: Or observing them, or imagining them. The point is that reading isn't a passive activity where the brain is just processing language. It's much more dynamic and active. So if you're reading a book about baseball, say, the brain reacts in ways similar to how it would if you were actually playing baseball, or watching a game, or imagining yourself hitting a ball, or whatever. D: Interesting. How was this studied? Y: That's interesting, too. The researchers studied readers' brains using an MRI scanner. But because the readers had to remain perfectly³ still, their heads were immobilized as they read the story one word at a time on a computer screen. D: That's hardly a typical reading experience. Y: True. But even reading stories in that strange, one-word-at-a-time way, the readers'brains were still activated to create mental simulations of the story. D: So what does this mean? Y: Maybe that being lost in a good book doesn't mean you're zoned⁴ out. It's more like your brain is tuned⁵ in.

be lost in sth:全神贯注与，沉浸于
to be lost in thought  陷入沉思

get caught up in sth: 陷入，沉浸于，被吸引

stimulation⁶:刺激;兴奋;激励;鼓舞
Lazy people need stimulation to make them work.
懒人需要激励才能使他们工作。

immobilize
1. 使固定；使不动：
She was immobilized by shock.
她由于震惊而目瞪口呆。
2. 使(部队、车辆等)不能调动，使丧失机动性

1 detailed   

adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的

参考例句：

• 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。

2 activated   

adj. 激活的 动词activate的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The canister is filled with activated charcoal.蒸气回收罐中充满了活性炭。

3 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

4 zoned   

adj.划成区域的，束带的v.（飞机、汽车等）急速移动( zoom的现在分词 )；（价格、费用等）急升，猛涨

参考例句：

• This small town has been zoned as a shopping area. 这个小镇已划作商业区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They zoned the house into sleeping, sitting and dining rooms. 他们将房子区分成卧室、客厅和餐厅。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 tuned   

adj.调谐的，已调谐的v.调音( tune的过去式和过去分词 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调

参考例句：

• The resort is tuned in to the tastes of young and old alike. 这个度假胜地适合各种口味，老少皆宜。
• The instruments should be tuned up before each performance. 每次演出开始前都应将乐器调好音。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 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。