花高价买票看3D电影是许多电影院常客的烦恼之源。

　　But there may be a benefit to doing so, as a study has claimed that 3D films exercise the brain and improve short-term functioning in a similar way to brain-training tests.

　　但这样做可能也会带来好处。一项研究称，3D电影可以锻炼大脑，能像大脑训练测试那样提高脑部短时间内的机能。

　　The research found that people who watched a movie in 3D had improved cognitive skills compared to those who watched it in 2D.

　　该研究发现，相比那些看2D电影的人来说，观看3D电影的人认知能力得到了改善。

　　The research was led by neuroscientist Dr Patrick Fagan from Goldsmiths University in London.

　　该项研究由伦敦大学金史密斯学院的神经系统科学家帕特里克·费根博士牵头进行。

　　看3D电影会让你变得更聪明？

　　More than 100 people took part in the experiment, where participants watched Disney film Big Hero 6 in either standard format or RealD 3D.

　　100多个人参加了实验，这些参与者不是观看了迪斯尼公司出品的标准格式《超能陆战队》，就是观看了RealD 3D的《超能陆战队》。

　　They also carried out a brain-training-style test before and after seeing a segment from the film.

　　在观看电影一小段的片段之前和之后，他们还分别进行了类似脑部训练的测试。

　　The test covered memory, reaction times and cognitive function, and the results were subsequently compared.

　　测试内容包括记忆力、反应时间和认知功能的测试，这些测试的结果随后被用来进行比较。

　　According to the research, which was carried out in partnership with science group Thrill Laboratory, participants experienced a 23 per cent increase in cognitive processing, as well as an 11 per cent increase in reaction times.

　　该研究与科学小组兴奋实验室（Thrill Laboratory ）合作进行，发现研究参与者在认知加工能力上提高了23%，反应时间提高11%。

　　Dr Fagan said that the results showed enough of an improvement in brain function to suggest that 3D could play a part in improving brain power in the future.

　　费根博士指出，研究结果足以显示大脑的功能得到了改善，因此在未来，3D可以在改善脑力方面发挥作用。

　　'These findings are more significant than you might think,' he said.

　　他说：“这些调查结果比你想象中的还更有意义。”

　　'It is a fact that people are living longer and there is a noticeable decline in cognitive brain function in old age which can impair future quality of life.

　　“事实上，如今人们的寿命变得更长了，但在老年的时候，大脑的认知功能有了明显的下降，这可能使得未来的生活质量也随之降低。”

　　'There has never been a better time to look at ways to improve brain function.

　　“到目前为止，从未有过比这更好的一次机会，能够研究如何改善大脑功能。”

　　'The initial results of this study indicate that 3D films may potentially play a role in slowing this decline.'

　　“这项研究的初步结果表明，3D电影或许可以在减缓这种衰退中发挥作用。”

　　A second part of the experiment involved those watching the film being fitted with headsets that scanned brain activity and this too showed heightened activity when watching 3D.

　　实验的第二部分中，那些观看电影的参与者都带上了耳机，可以扫描他们的脑部活动，结果同样显示在观看3D电影时大脑活动加强。

　　According to the results, participants were seven per cent more engaged with what they were watching, adding to the argument that 3D movies are more like watching real-life - something Professor Brendan Walker from Thrill Laboratory agreed with.

　　结果显示，参与者比平时更专注于他们所观看的电影，专注度增加了7%；支持了3D电影更像观看真实场景的说法，而来自兴奋实验室的布伦丹·沃克教授也对此表示同意。

　　'A seven per cent rise in emotional engagement is extremely noteworthy. Watching in 3D gives the viewer such an enriched and quality experience, as these results show,' he said.

　　“情感投入上增加7%是非常值得注意的一点。正如研究结果显示的那样，观看3D电影会给观众带来这种强化且优质的体验，”他说道。

　　'In evolutionary terms, the results of both parts of the test certainly make sense,' Dr Fagan added.

　　“从进化论的角度来说，两部分测试的结果当然都是很有意义的，”费根博士补充道。

　　'As Professor Brendan Walker's test concluded, 3D films are more immersive, heighten the senses and induce emotional arousal - this, in turn, makes the brain run at quicker speeds.'

　　“正如布伦丹·沃克（Brendan Walker ）教授的测试得出的结论那样，3D电影更能让人身临其境，强化感官感受，引起情感上的共鸣——而这，反过来又能促进大脑快速运行。”

　　Vocabulary

　　over the odds：（尤指价格）超过正常的

　　bane：烦恼之源

　　neuroscientist：神经系统科学家