媒體英語(yǔ)
Study supports link between music and cognitive ability 研究證實(shí)音樂(lè)訓(xùn)練與認(rèn)知能力間存在聯(lián)系
一項(xiàng)新研究證實(shí)，兒時(shí)學(xué)習(xí)演奏樂(lè)器與日后思維能力的提高存在關(guān)聯(lián)。研究發(fā)現(xiàn)，會(huì)演奏樂(lè)器的人在認(rèn)知能力測(cè)試中的表現(xiàn)略優(yōu)于沒(méi)有演奏過(guò)樂(lè)器的人。
The physical and mental dexterity needed to master a musical instrument has long been associated with improved cognitive performance. But now, researchers at the University of Edinburgh have demonstrated it can also delay the mental decline associated with ageing.
長(zhǎng)期以來(lái)，人們一直認(rèn)為精通一種樂(lè)器所需的身體和思維靈敏度與認(rèn)知能力的提高有關(guān)。但現(xiàn)在，愛(ài)丁堡大學(xué)的研究人員們已經(jīng)證明精通樂(lè)器還有可能延緩與衰老相關(guān)的智力衰退。
The team tested more than 400 people from the Lothian birth cohort, a long-term study group set up in 1936, and found significantly higher levels of performance in both mental processing speed and visuospatial reasoning for those in their seventies and early eighties, who'd learnt to play an instrument in their youth.
該團(tuán)隊(duì)對(duì)英國(guó)洛錫安地區(qū)出生人口隊(duì)列中的400名調(diào)查對(duì)象進(jìn)行了測(cè)試，這個(gè)長(zhǎng)期追蹤研究組于1936年設(shè)立，跟蹤研究發(fā)現(xiàn)在目前70多歲和80歲出頭的人群中，兒時(shí)學(xué)過(guò)樂(lè)器的人大腦處理信息的速度和視覺(jué)空間推理方面的表現(xiàn)都更好。
The results held up even when educational attainment and economic status were taken into account, and begs the question, could learning to play an instrument in later life have a similarly positive impact on ageing?
即便是將研究對(duì)象的受教育程度和經(jīng)濟(jì)狀況納入考慮因素，上述研究結(jié)果依然成立，這就引出了一個(gè)的問(wèn)題：長(zhǎng)大后開(kāi)始學(xué)習(xí)樂(lè)器是否會(huì)對(duì)衰老產(chǎn)生類似的積極影響？
The researchers are now appealing for people who've only started to play an instrument as adults to take part in a new study.
為此，這些研究人員正在尋找成年后才開(kāi)始學(xué)習(xí)演奏樂(lè)器的人來(lái)參與一項(xiàng)新的研究。
詞匯表
dexterity 靈敏度
master 精通，掌握
cognitive performance 認(rèn)知表現(xiàn)，認(rèn)知能力
mental decline 認(rèn)知能力衰退
cohort 人口隊(duì)列，（有共同特點(diǎn)的）一群人
set up 設(shè)立
mental processing speed 大腦處理信息的速度
visuospatial reasoning 視覺(jué)空間推理
held up （理論）成立，站得住腳
attainment 獲得
begs the question 引出問(wèn)題，不得不問(wèn)
閱讀理解：請(qǐng)?jiān)谧x完上文后，回答下列問(wèn)題。
1. Who was tested in this study?
2. What did the team find out about the people in their seventies and early eighties who were tested?
3. True or false? The results were different when education was considered.
4. Who are researchers planning to study next?
答案
1. Who was tested in this study?
More than 400 people from the Lothian birth cohort, a long-term study group set up in 1936 , were tested .
2. What did the team find out about the people in their seventies and early eighties who were tested?
They found significantly higher levels of performance in both mental processing speed and visuospatial reasoning for those in their seventies and early eighties who'd learnt to play an instrument in their youth.
3. True or false? The results were different when education was considered.
False. The results held up even when educational attainment was taken into account.
4. Who are researchers planning to study next?
Researchers are now appealing for people who've only started to play an instrument as adults to take part in a new study.
