欧美人文风情第290篇:他的人生只有现在式 秒忘人

 Henry Molaison lived in relative obscurity, but he possessed¹ one of the world's most famous brains 几乎没有人记得 Henry Molaison，但他拥有全世界最知名的脑袋，

and helped shape our understanding of memory. 还帮助我们塑造对记忆的认知。

In 1953, aged² 27, the American underwent brain surgery intended to cure his epilepsy. 1953 年，当时 27 岁，这位美国人为了治疗癫痫接受脑部手术。

While the removal of parts of his hippocampus, amygdaloid complex, and entorhinal cortex reduced his seizures³, 移除脑中部份的海马回、杏仁核和内嗅皮质虽然减缓了他的症状，

Molaison lost the ability to form any new memories. Molaison 却丧失建立新记忆的能力。

He lived in the present for the rest of his life, unable to store information for any longer than 30 seconds. 他的余生都活在当下，没办法储存信息超过三十秒。

But Molaison's life-changing event was a huge opportunity for scientists. 但 Molaison 这项改变人生的事件对科学家来说却是个重大契机。

Henry could speak, recall long-term memories from before his surgery, carry out tasks like tying shoelaces, Henry 能说话、想起手术之前的长期记忆、能做象是绑鞋带的事情，

and learn some new tasks, such as moving with a walking frame. 也能学习新事物，象是利用助行器行动。

But he was not able to create any new long-term memories, like learning new words, or recall times and dates. 但他没办法建立任何新的长期记忆，象是学习新单字，或记起时间和日期。

Prior to Molaison, there was uncertainty⁴ about which part of the brain is used to create memories. 在 Molaison 之前，对于脑部哪个区块是用来建立记忆并没有确切的说法。

By agreeing to be studied over several decades until his death in 2008, Molaison 同意被研究长达数十年，直到他在 2008 年逝世，

Molaison's case transformed the way we understand memory and helped explain how different areas of the brain are linked to specific memory function. 他的案例改变了我们对记忆的认知，并解释了脑中不同区块如何与特定记忆功能产生连结。

Molaison donated his brain to research. It is still analyzed⁵ by scientists interested in memory and conditions such as Alzheimer's. Molaison 捐赠自己的大脑以供研究。对记忆或是阿兹海默症等疾病有兴趣的科学家至今还是会分析他的脑部。

 

1 possessed   

adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的

参考例句：

• He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
• He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。

2 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

3 seizures   

n.起获( seizure的名词复数 )；没收；充公；起获的赃物

参考例句：

• Seizures of illicit drugs have increased by 30% this year. 今年违禁药品的扣押增长了30%。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Other causes of unconsciousness predisposing to aspiration lung abscess are convulsive seizures. 造成吸入性肺脓肿昏迷的其他原因，有惊厥发作。 来自辞典例句

4 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

5 analyzed   

v.分析( analyze的过去式和过去分词 )；分解；解释；对…进行心理分析

参考例句：

• The doctors analyzed the blood sample for anemia. 医生们分析了贫血的血样。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The young man did not analyze the process of his captivation and enrapturement, for love to him was a mystery and could not be analyzed. 这年轻人没有分析自己蛊惑著迷的过程，因为对他来说，爱是个不可分析的迷。 来自《简明英汉词典》