英语听力文摘 English Digest 137、爱真会使人受伤吗?

　　In a recent study, scientists observed that when the participants felt rejected, the flow of blood increased to the area of their brain known as the anterior¹ cingulated cortex. This same area has been associated with the emotional response to unpleasant physical pain.
so you are saying that the same part of the brain apparently² responds to both physical bruises³ and bruised⁴ feelings.
See, no wonder I hurt so much!
Ok, so what does scientist think this means?
well, for one thing. This may signal that the need for social connections is as strong as the need to stay out of physical harm.
For mammals, apparently, being excluded from a group can be dangerous, even deadly. I mean, evolutionarily speaking, living and working in a group is a key component⁵ of how well humans have managed to survive.
so I guess this means we have to stop dismissing emotional pain as something imaginary.
Yeah, and the next step might be to test whether the extent to which you feel comfortable socially helps lessen⁶ the pain of rejection⁷.

1 anterior   

adj.较早的；在前的

参考例句：

• We've already finished the work anterior to the schedule.我们已经提前完成了工作。
• The anterior part of a fish contains the head and gills.鱼的前部包括头和鳃。

2 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

3 bruises   

n.瘀伤，伤痕，擦伤( bruise的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He was covered with bruises after falling off his bicycle. 他从自行车上摔了下来，摔得浑身伤痕。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The pear had bruises of dark spots. 这个梨子有碰伤的黑斑。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 bruised   

[医]青肿的，瘀紫的

参考例句：

• his bruised and bloodied nose 他沾满血的青肿的鼻子
• She had slipped and badly bruised her face. 她滑了一跤，摔得鼻青脸肿。

5 component   

n.组成部分，成分，元件；adj.组成的，合成的

参考例句：

• Each component is carefully checked before assembly.每个零件在装配前都经过仔细检查。
• Blade and handle are the component parts of a knife.刀身和刀柄是一把刀的组成部分。

6 lessen   

vt.减少，减轻；缩小

参考例句：

• Regular exercise can help to lessen the pain.经常运动有助于减轻痛感。
• They've made great effort to lessen the noise of planes.他们尽力减小飞机的噪音。

7 rejection   

n.拒绝，被拒，抛弃，被弃

参考例句：

• He decided not to approach her for fear of rejection.他因怕遭拒绝决定不再去找她。
• The rejection plunged her into the dark depths of despair.遭到拒绝使她陷入了绝望的深渊。