【英语时差8,16】失忆症

When we remember something, the neurons in our brains communicate with each other in a particular way. The chemical and sometimes even structural¹ changes that occur create a pathway called a memory trace. Signals traveling along these traces are what allow us to remember things. When the chemical changes first occur, they create short term memory, or things we remember for only a brief time. But short- term memory can become long term memory if the memory trace is activated² enough so that it creates a long-term pathway in the brain. This process is called consolidation³. When something interrupts the memory-storage process–like a hard knock to the head–newly formed memories aren’t stored for the long run and you can’t remember things that just happened. This is called anterograde amnesia⁴. But it looks like you'll also have retrograde amnesia which is when you can’t recall things from your long term memory either. Luckily, in many cases of amnesia memory eventually returns, although the incident that caused amnesia is often never recalled.

 

1 structural   

adj.构造的，组织的，建筑（用）的

参考例句：

• The storm caused no structural damage.风暴没有造成建筑结构方面的破坏。
• The North American continent is made up of three great structural entities.北美大陆是由三个构造单元组成的。

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 consolidation   

n.合并,巩固

参考例句：

• The denser population necessitates closer consolidation both for internal and external action. 住得日益稠密的居民，对内和对外都不得不更紧密地团结起来。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• The state ensures the consolidation and growth of the state economy. 国家保障国营经济的巩固和发展。 来自汉英非文学 - 中国宪法

4 amnesia   

n.健忘症，健忘

参考例句：

• People suffering from amnesia don't forget their general knowledge of objects.患健忘症的人不会忘记关于物体的一些基本知识。
• Chinese medicine experts developed a way to treat amnesia using marine materials.中国医学专家研制出用海洋物质治疗遗忘症的方法。