Imagine a future where you can turn on the lights,play video games,and write your e-mail just by thinking about it.This fantasy future is fast becoming the present,thanks to exciting new advances in neuroscience
想象一下:未来你光是用“想”就能开灯、玩电子游戏、发电子邮件。这个想象的未来很快将成为现实,这得感谢神经科学令人兴奋的进展。
Recently in New York,four people wearing a cap filled with electrodes were able to move a computer cursor using only their thoughts.And in Wisconsinlast November,two people with electrodes implanted in their brains were also able to move a cursor and even play video ping pong. “The most effective waywas for me to scrunch my body really tight and ‘think about yelling,” said Chandra Malmquist.“Each day I got better ‘at controlling the cursor.”In a similar experiment at Brown University,a 25-year-old man learned to turn on the lights,check his e-mail,and switch channels on a TV.
最近在纽约,4个人戴着一顶装满电极的帽子,光用思考就能够移动电脑鼠标。去年11月在威斯康辛州,将电极植入脑子的两个人,一样能够用“想”来移动电脑鼠标,他们甚至玩起了乒乓球电脑游戏。“对我来说,最有效的方法就是浑身用力,想象尖叫的状态,”仙卓拉莫奇斯表示,“控制鼠标的动作我每天都越做越好。”布朗大学也有类似的实验,一名25岁的男子学会了用“想”来开灯、看电子邮件和切换电视频道。
New technology like this may make a big difference for people with disabilities and brain damage.For example,stroke victims often think clearly but are unable to speak.This technology may help them communicate with the outside world. Another exciting application may be in helping paralyzed people move again. They might be able to use this technology to send electrical impulses directly to their arms and legs and move them at will.The expression “mind over body” might take on a whole new meaning.
像这样的新科技可以令失能者或脑部受损的人产生极大的转变。例如,中风病人常常是思想清晰却无法说话,这项科技也许能帮助他们与外界沟通。另一项令人振奋的应用或许能帮助瘫痪病人重新行动,患者或许能利用这项科技直接传送电流脉冲到手臂或腿部,指挥它们随意移动。所谓“心灵重于肉体”这句话可能会诠释出新的含义?笏(摘自《时代新鲜人》)