2007年VOA标准英语-Deep Brain Stimulation Used For Traumatic Injur

By Melinda Smith
Washington
07 August 2007
 

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Deep Brain Stimulation has been used successfully on patients in advanced stages of Parkinson's disease and other neurological movement disorders² such as tremors³.

The remarkable⁴ success of this experimental surgery now offers hope for at least a partial recovery of some patients who were once unable to communicate. VOA's Melinda Smith has more on how this procedure might help.

Surgeons at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio revealed they had performed an experimental procedure called Deep Brain Stimulation on a man who had been severely⁵ injured in an assault. 

For six years he had been in a minimally⁶ conscious state. Minimally conscious patients can show arousal and awareness⁷ of surroundings.  Imaging showed portions of this patient's brain were still intact.

Dr. Ali Rezai

Dr. Ali Rezai of the Cleveland Clinic inserted a pacemaker in a section of the man's brain, called the thalamus.  Two days later, the pacemaker was turned on and began sending electrical signals in the first test of Deep Brain Stimulation. 

"The language of the brain is electricity. So by using electrical signals, we're activating⁸ the brain using its own language."

Over a period of months, the patient became more responsive and regained⁹ the ability to chew, swallow food and speak.  While the family wishes to be anonymous¹⁰, the mother says the results have been like a miracle. "My son can now eat.  He can cry and he can laugh.  I still cry every time I see my son, but it's tears of joy."

Traumatic brain injury can occur during a car crash, a fall or an act of violence.   It is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. It accounts for a large percentage of casualties among U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Iraqi citizens. 

Doctors say Deep Brain Stimulation will not work for all patients with brain damage.  But they also say it does offer some hope for families still searching for a way to reconnect with their loves ones.

1 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。

2 disorders   

n.混乱( disorder的名词复数 )；凌乱；骚乱；（身心、机能）失调

参考例句：

• Reports of anorexia and other eating disorders are on the increase. 据报告，厌食症和其他饮食方面的功能紊乱发生率正在不断增长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The announcement led to violent civil disorders. 这项宣布引起剧烈的骚乱。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 tremors   

震颤( tremor的名词复数 )； 战栗； 震颤声； 大地的轻微震动

参考例句：

• The story was so terrible that It'sent tremors down my spine. 这故事太可怕，它使我不寒而栗。
• The story was so terrible that it sent tremors down my spine. 这故事太可怕，它使我不寒而栗。

4 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

5 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

6 minimally   

最低限度地，最低程度地

参考例句：

• Food spoilage problems occur with minimally processed, concentrated frozen citrus products. 食品的变质也发生在轻微加工的、浓缩冷冻的柑橘制品中。
• So, minimally, they are responsible for such actions and omissions. 所以，至少来说，他们要对这样的行为和忽略负责。

7 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

8 activating   

活动的，活性的

参考例句：

• "I didn't say we'd got to stop activating the masses! “我并没说就此不发动！ 来自子夜部分
• Presumably both the very small size and activating influence of fluorine atoms contribute to this exception. 这大概是由于氟原子半径小和活性高这两个原因的影响，氟原子对这种例外做出了贡献。

9 regained   

复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地

参考例句：

• The majority of the people in the world have regained their liberty. 世界上大多数人已重获自由。
• She hesitated briefly but quickly regained her poise. 她犹豫片刻，但很快恢复了镇静。

10 anonymous   

adj.无名的；匿名的；无特色的

参考例句：

• Sending anonymous letters is a cowardly act.寄匿名信是懦夫的行为。
• The author wishes to remain anonymous.作者希望姓名不公开。