智能手机没让我们变傻

 　　AS much as we love our digital devices, many of us have an uneasy sense that they are destroying our attention spans. We skitter from app to app, seldom alighting for long. Our ability to concentrate is shot, right?

　　我们喜爱我们的数码设备，但与此同时，很多人也对此感到不安，觉得它们破坏了我们注意力的持续度。我们在各种应用中切换，很少在其中一个上做长时间停留。我们全神贯注的能力遭到了削弱，是吧？

　　Research shows that our intuition is wrong. We can focus. But our sense that we can’t may not be a phantom¹. Paying attention requires not just ability but desire. Technology may snuff out our desire to focus.

　　研究表明，这种想当然的看法并不正确。我们是可以集中注意力的。但我们觉得自己丧失了这个能力也是有原因的。因为这不仅需要能力，也需要意愿。而科技产品可能扼杀了我们全神贯注的意愿。

　　智能手机没让我们变傻

　　The idea that gadgets² corrode³ our attention span sounds logical. Screen-based activities can take upward of 11 hours of a teenager’s day, and many demand rapid shifts of attention: quick camera cuts in videos, frenetically paced games, answering questions in multiple apps, not to mention web design that invites skimming. And we often do all this simultaneously⁴, so attention bounces between two (or three or eight) fast-paced tasks. The theory is that the brain’s plasticity turns this quick mental pivoting⁵ into a habit, rendering⁶ us unable to sustain attention.

　　数码设备削弱了我们的注意力，这个想法似乎很合逻辑。青少年每天在屏幕上进行的活动时间可以长达11小时，很多设备需要你快速转换注意力：视频中的快速剪接镜头，节奏紧张的游戏，在多个应用中回答问题，更不用说鼓励你一览而过的网页设计了。我们经常同时做这些事情，因为我们的注意力也在两个（或三个，或八个）快节奏的任务之间来回切换。有人认为，大脑具有可塑性，因此快速切换的做法逐渐养成了习惯，导致我们无法持续集中注意力。

　　But there’s little evidence that attention spans are shrinking. Scientists use “span” to mean two separate things: how much we can keep in mind, and how well we can maintain focus. They measure the former by asking people to repeat increasingly long strings⁷ of digits⁸ in reverse order. They measure the latter by asking people to monitor visual stimuli⁹ for occasional, subtle changes. Performance on these tests today looks a whole lot as it did 50 years ago.

　　但几乎没有证据表明，人们注意力的持续度正在缩短。科学家用“持续度”来表示两种不同的东西：我们一次可以记住多少东西，以及我们可以全神贯注的程度。他们测量前者的方式是让人以相反的顺序复述越来越长的数字串。衡量后者时则要求人监测视觉刺激，注意到偶然发生的微妙变化。这些测试的结果似乎和50年前相差无几。

　　Scientists also note that although mental tasks can change our brains, the impact is usually modest. For example, practice with action video games improves some aspects of vision, but it’s a small boost, not an overhaul¹⁰ of how we see. Attention is so central to our ability to think that a significant deterioration¹¹ would require a retrofitting of other cognitive¹² functions. Mental reorganization at that scale happens over evolutionary¹³ time, not because you got a smartphone.

　　科学家还指出，虽然心智任务可以改变我们的大脑，但其影响通常不大。例如，对于我们如何看东西，动作类电子游戏改善了其中的某些方面，但幅度很小，并不显著。注意力是我们思考能力的核心，以至于只有加上其他认知功能的变化才会导致它出现显著恶化。这种程度的心智重组属于进化范畴，不是弄到一部智能手机就会发生的。

　　But if our attention span is not shrinking, why do we feel it is? Why, in a 2012 Pew survey, did nearly 90 percent of teachers claim that students can’t pay attention the way they could a few years ago? It may be that digital devices have not left us unable to pay attention, but have made us unwilling¹⁴ to do so.

　　但是，如果我们的注意力持续度没有缩减，为什么我们会有这种感觉呢？为什么皮尤(Pew)2012年的一项调查显示，将近90%的教师说学生们不像几年前那样注意力集中了？这可能是因为数码设备虽然没有让我们削弱集中注意力的能力，但却让我们失去了这样做的意愿。

　　The digital world carries the promise of amusement that is constant, immediate¹⁵ and limitless. If a YouTube video isn’t funny in the first 10 seconds, why watch when I can instantly seek something better on BuzzFeed or Spotify? The Internet hasn’t shortened my attention span, but it has fixed¹⁶ a persistent¹⁷ thought in the back of my mind: Isn’t there’s something better to do than what I’m doing?

　　数码世界提供了源源不断、即时、无限的娱乐活动。如果YouTube上一段视频的前10秒没意思，那为何还要看它，反正我可以马上到BuzzFeed或Spotify找到更好的东西？互联网没有缩减我的注意力持续度，但它改变了我脑海中一个长期以来的想法：是不是有什么东西比我现在手上的更好？

　　Are we more easily bored than we were 20 years ago? Researchers don’t know, but recent studies support the suggestion that our antennas¹⁸ are always up. People’s performance on basic laboratory tests of attention gets worse if a cellphone is merely visible nearby. In another experiment, people using a driving simulator were more likely to hit a pedestrian when their cellphone rang, even if they had planned in advance not to answer it.

　　与20年前相比，我们现在更容易厌倦了吗？研究人员没有答案，但最近的研究支持了一个说法：我们的天线一直是开着的。在基本的实验室测试中，仅仅是有一部手机在视线范围之内，人们的注意力表现就会变差。在另一个实验中，如果手机在响，即使驾驶模拟器的人决定不去理睬它，也更有可能撞上行人。

　　The direst prediction offered by digital critics — our phones are really pocket-size deep fryers for the mind — may be untrue, but the alternative I’ve suggested sounds nearly as bad. The appetite for endless entertainment suggests that worthier¹⁹ activities will be shoved aside. We may buy Salman Rushdie’s book, but we’ll end up sucked in by Flappy Bird.

　　数码批评家做出了可怕的预测——手机就是一口袖珍的心智油炸锅。事实可能并非这样，但我的说法似乎也暗示着同样糟糕的事情：对娱乐的无限热衷，似乎意味着更有价值的活动将被抛到一边。我们可能会购买萨尔曼·拉什迪(Salman Rushdie)的书，结果却沉迷于玩《像素鸟》(Flappy Bird)游戏。

　　That doesn’t quite seem to be the case, either. Research shows, for example, that the amount of leisure reading hasn’t changed with the advent²⁰ of the digital age. Before we congratulate ourselves, though, let’s acknowledge that brainier hobbies have never been that popular. There have always been ways to kill time.

　　情况好像也不是这样。例如，研究表明，休闲书刊阅读量似乎并没有随着数字时代的来临而改变。在祝贺自己之前，我们不妨先承认，更高雅的爱好从来都没有那么流行。打发时间的方式一直都不缺乏。

　　Still, digital activities may be different. Over the last decade, neuroscientists distinguished²¹ two systems of attention and associated thought. One is directed outward, as when you scroll²² through your email or play Candy Crush. The other is directed inward, as when you daydream²³, plan what you’ll do tomorrow, or reflect on the past. Clearly, most digital activities call for outwardly directed attention. These two modes of attention work like a toggle switch; when one is on, the other is off. In fact, when attention is outwardly directed, the inwardly directed attention system is somewhat suppressed. Given the amount of time people spend with digital devices, that sounds ominous²⁴.

　　但是，数字活动可能还是有所不同。过去十年来，神经学家总结出两种有关注意力和思考的系统。一种是外指向的，出现在你浏览电子邮件，或玩《糖果粉碎传奇》(Candy Crush)的时候。另一种是内指向的，出现在你发呆，计划明天会做什么，或反思过去的时候。显然，大多数数字活动引发的都是外指向的注意力。这两种模式就像按动开关；当其中一种打开，另一种就关闭了。事实上，当注意力切换到外指向系统时，内指向的系统就遭到了抑制。鉴于我们在数码设备上花的时间如此之多，这听起来有些不妙。

　　Will we actually lose our ability to daydream? Let’s hope not. Among daydreaming²⁵’s many merits, research shows, is an association with greater creativity. But there is a dark side of inwardly directed thought, too. Daydreaming often distracts us when we’re trying to get something done. And reflection can turn ugly, as when we ruminate²⁶ about some past insult or error.

　　我们真的会失去发呆的能力？希望不会吧。研究显示，发呆有诸多优点，其中一个和创造力提升很有关系。但是内指向活动也有缺点。比如我们想把事情做好的时候，发呆可能会让我们分心。当我们纠结于过去的一些侮辱或错误时，反思可能并非好事。

　　Digital devices are not eating away at our brains. They are, however, luring²⁷ us toward near constant outwardly directed thought, a situation that’s probably unique in human experience. A flat cap on time with devices — the restriction²⁸ we first think of for ourselves and our kids — might help. So would parking devices in another room for a while. But it would be more effective if we could learn to recognize in ourselves when escape from our thoughts is O.K. and when reflection is in order. As a bonus, judgments²⁹ like that require inwardly directed attention, a mental habit that in our smartphone era, we’d be dumb to lose.

　　数码设备不会蚕食我们的大脑。然而，它们引诱我们几乎总是采取外指向思维，在人类经验中，这种情况可能是是独一无二的。为设备使用时间设定上限——我们首先为自己和孩子想到的限制——可能会有帮助。放下设备，到另一个房间呆一段时间也会很有用。但是，如果我们可以自己意识到，什么时候应当从思绪中抽离，什么时候应该进行反思，效果就会更好。这样的判断需要内指向的注意力，这是一个额外优点。在目前这个智能手机的时代，放弃这种心智习惯就太不明智了。

1 phantom   

n.幻影，虚位，幽灵；adj.错觉的，幻影的，幽灵的

参考例句：

• I found myself staring at her as if she were a phantom.我发现自己瞪大眼睛看着她，好像她是一个幽灵。
• He is only a phantom of a king.他只是有名无实的国王。

2 gadgets   

n.小机械，小器具（ gadget的名词复数 ）

参考例句：

• Certainly. The idea is not to have a house full of gadgets. 当然。设想是房屋不再充满小配件。 来自超越目标英语 第4册
• This meant more gadgets and more experiments. 这意味着要设计出更多的装置，做更多的实验。 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史

3 corrode   

v.使腐蚀，侵蚀，破害；v.腐蚀，被侵蚀

参考例句：

• The tools will corrode with rust if never used.这些工具如长期不用会长铁锈而损坏。
• It will pollute people's aesthetic taste and corrode social spirit.它污染人们的审美趣味，腐蚀社会精神。

4 simultaneously   

adv.同时发生地，同时进行地

参考例句：

• The radar beam can track a number of targets almost simultaneously.雷达波几乎可以同时追着多个目标。
• The Windows allow a computer user to execute multiple programs simultaneously.Windows允许计算机用户同时运行多个程序。

5 pivoting   

n.绕轴旋转，绕公共法线旋转v.（似）在枢轴上转动( pivot的现在分词 )；把…放在枢轴上；以…为核心，围绕（主旨）展开

参考例句：

• Here is a neat YouTube video showing the Gyro's pivoting mechanism. 这里是一个整洁的YouTube视频显示陀螺仪的旋转机制。 来自互联网
• Dart pivoting is widely used in the gannent pattern design. 省道转移的原理在服装纸样设计中应用十分广泛。 来自互联网

6 rendering   

n.表现，描写

参考例句：

• She gave a splendid rendering of Beethoven's piano sonata.她精彩地演奏了贝多芬的钢琴奏鸣曲。
• His narrative is a super rendering of dialect speech and idiom.他的叙述是方言和土语最成功的运用。

7 strings   

n.弦

参考例句：

• He sat on the bed,idly plucking the strings of his guitar.他坐在床上，随意地拨着吉他的弦。
• She swept her fingers over the strings of the harp.她用手指划过竖琴的琴弦。

8 digits   

n.数字( digit的名词复数 )；手指，足趾

参考例句：

• The number 1000 contains four digits. 1000是四位数。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The number 410 contains three digits. 数字 410 中包括三个数目字。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

9 stimuli   

n.刺激（物）

参考例句：

• It is necessary to curtail or alter normally coexisting stimuli.必需消除或改变正常时并存的刺激。
• My sweat glands also respond to emotional stimuli.我的汗腺对情绪刺激也能产生反应。

10 overhaul   

v./n.大修，仔细检查

参考例句：

• Master Worker Wang is responsible for the overhaul of this grinder.王师傅主修这台磨床。
• It is generally appreciated that the rail network needs a complete overhaul.众所周知，铁路系统需要大检修。

11 deterioration   

n.退化；恶化；变坏

参考例句：

• Mental and physical deterioration both occur naturally with age. 随着年龄的增长，心智和体力自然衰退。
• The car's bodywork was already showing signs of deterioration. 这辆车的车身已经显示出了劣化迹象。

12 cognitive   

adj.认知的，认识的，有感知的

参考例句：

• As children grow older,their cognitive processes become sharper.孩子们越长越大，他们的认知过程变得更为敏锐。
• The cognitive psychologist is like the tinker who wants to know how a clock works.认知心理学者倒很像一个需要通晓钟表如何运转的钟表修理匠。

13 evolutionary   

adj.进化的；演化的，演变的；[生]进化论的

参考例句：

• Life has its own evolutionary process.生命有其自身的进化过程。
• These are fascinating questions to be resolved by the evolutionary studies of plants.这些十分吸引人的问题将在研究植物进化过程中得以解决。

14 unwilling   

adj.不情愿的

参考例句：

• The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
• His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。

15 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

16 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

17 persistent   

adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的

参考例句：

• Albert had a persistent headache that lasted for three days.艾伯特连续头痛了三天。
• She felt embarrassed by his persistent attentions.他不时地向她大献殷勤，使她很难为情。

18 antennas   

[生] 触角，触须（antenna的复数形式）

参考例句：

• Marconi tied several antennas to kites. 马可尼在风筝上系了几根天线。 来自超越目标英语 第3册
• Radio astronomy today is armed with the largest antennas in the world. 射电天文学拥有世界上最大的天线。

19 worthier   

应得某事物( worthy的比较级 )； 值得做某事； 可尊敬的； 有（某人或事物）的典型特征

参考例句：

• I am sure that you might be much, much worthier of yourself.' 我可以肯定你能非常非常值得自己骄傲。” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
• I should like the chance to fence with a worthier opponent. 我希望有机会跟实力相当的对手击剑。

20 advent   

n.(重要事件等的)到来，来临

参考例句：

• Swallows come by groups at the advent of spring. 春天来临时燕子成群飞来。
• The advent of the Euro will redefine Europe.欧元的出现将重新定义欧洲。

21 distinguished   

adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的

参考例句：

• Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses.大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。
• A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests.宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。

22 scroll   

n.卷轴，纸卷；(石刻上的)漩涡

参考例句：

• As I opened the scroll,a panorama of the Yellow River unfolded.我打开卷轴时，黄河的景象展现在眼前。
• He was presented with a scroll commemorating his achievements.他被授予一幅卷轴，以表彰其所做出的成就。

23 daydream   

v.做白日梦，幻想

参考例句：

• Boys and girls daydream about what they want to be.孩子们遐想着他们将来要干什么。
• He drifted off into another daydream.他飘飘然又做了一个白日梦。

24 ominous   

adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的

参考例句：

• Those black clouds look ominous for our picnic.那些乌云对我们的野餐来说是个不祥之兆。
• There was an ominous silence at the other end of the phone.电话那头出现了不祥的沉默。

25 daydreaming   

v.想入非非，空想( daydream的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Stop daydreaming and be realistic. 别空想了，还是从实际出发吧。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Bill was sitting and daydreaming so his mother told him to come down to earth and to do his homework. 比尔坐着空想， 他母亲要他面对现实，去做课外作业。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

26 ruminate   

v.反刍；沉思

参考例句：

• It is worth while to ruminate over his remarks.他的话值得玩味。
• The cow began to ruminate after eating up grass.牛吃完草后开始反刍。

27 luring   

吸引，引诱（lure的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• Cheese is very good for luring a mouse into a trap. 奶酪是引诱老鼠上钩的极好的东西。
• Her training warned her of peril and of the wrong, subtle, mysterious, luring. 她的教养警告她：有危险，要出错儿，这是微妙、神秘而又诱人的。

28 restriction   

n.限制，约束

参考例句：

• The park is open to the public without restriction.这个公园对公众开放，没有任何限制。
• The 30 mph speed restriction applies in all built-up areas.每小时限速30英里适用于所有建筑物聚集区。

29 judgments   

判断( judgment的名词复数 )； 鉴定； 评价； 审判

参考例句：

• A peculiar austerity marked his judgments of modern life. 他对现代生活的批评带着一种特殊的苛刻。
• He is swift with his judgments. 他判断迅速。