譯文簡介：想變聰明嗎？那就趕快參加腦力訓(xùn)練吧！

How Brain Training Can Make You
Significantly Smarter

如何進(jìn)行腦力訓(xùn)練,才能使你變得更聰明？

As many people hit middle age, they often
start to notice that their memory and mental clarity are not what they used to
be.  We suddenly can't remember where we
put the keys just a moment ago, or an old acquaintance's name, or the name of
an old band we used to love.  As the
brain fades, we euphemistically refer to these occurrences as "senior
moments."

許多中年人常會感到記憶力和頭腦不如從前。我們經(jīng)常會突然找不到鑰匙，或者突然忘記熟人的名字，甚至?xí)浳覀冊?jīng)喜歡的一首老樂曲的名字。關(guān)于大腦的退化，我們婉轉(zhuǎn)地把它稱作“老年時分”（老年人的瞬間記憶喪失）。

While seemingly innocent, this loss of
mental focus can potentially have a detrimental impact on our professional,
social, and personal well-being.

這看起來問題不大，但精神集中能力的喪失，對于我們的職業(yè)生涯、社會交往以及個人生活都能產(chǎn)生有害影響。

It happens to most of us, but is it
inevitable?

這種現(xiàn)象我們絕大多數(shù)人都不能逃避，但能否避免嗎？

Neuroscientists are increasingly showing
that there's actually a lot that can be done. the brain needs exercise in much
the same way our muscles do, and the right mental workouts can significantly
improve our basic cognitive functions. 
Thinking is essentially a process of making neural connections in the
brain.  To a certain extent, our ability
to excel in making the neural connections that drive intelligence is
inherited.  However, because these
connections are made through effort and practice, scientists believe that
intelligence can expand and fluctuate according to mental effort.

對此，神經(jīng)科學(xué)家已經(jīng)證明，實際上是可以改善的。大腦也跟我們的肌肉一樣，也需要進(jìn)行鍛煉，適當(dāng)?shù)木裼?xùn)練能夠明顯改善我們的基本認(rèn)知功能。從本質(zhì)上來講，思想是大腦中的神經(jīng)連接過程。在某種程度來講，我們在進(jìn)行神經(jīng)連接（直接影響人的聰明程度）方面的特殊能力是與生俱來的。

Now, a new San Francisco Web-based company
has taken it a step further and developed the first "brain training
program" designed to actually help people improve and regain their mental
sharpness.  Called Lumosity, it was
designed by some of the leading experts in neuroscience and cognitive
psychology from Stanford
University.

最近，美國舊金山一家新型的互聯(lián)網(wǎng)公司已經(jīng)采取了有關(guān)措施并開發(fā)了“大腦訓(xùn)練教程”，它可以從實際上幫助人們改善并恢復(fù)頭腦的靈敏程度。

Lumosity, is far more than an online place
to exercise your mental skills.  That's
because they have integrated these exercises into a Web-based program that
allows you to systematically improve your memory and attention skills.  The program keeps track of your progress and
provides detailed feedback on your performance and improvement.  Most importantly, it constantly modifies and
enhances the games you play to build on the strengths you are developing--much
like an effective exercise routine requires you to increase resistance and vary
your muscle use.

Lumosity不單是訓(xùn)練人類大腦能力的在線網(wǎng)站，因為這家網(wǎng)站將有關(guān)的訓(xùn)練項目添加到了網(wǎng)絡(luò)課程之中，進(jìn)而系統(tǒng)地改善人的記憶力和注意力。這個培訓(xùn)教程還隨時跟蹤學(xué)員的學(xué)習(xí)進(jìn)度，并對你的表現(xiàn)和改善程度給予詳盡的信息反饋。更加重要的是，它會經(jīng)常調(diào)整并升級有關(guān)訓(xùn)練游戲，以促進(jìn)腦力的不斷提升，這也正像只有通過強(qiáng)化肌肉的耐力、鍛煉各部位肌肉的功能，才能達(dá)到常規(guī)身體鍛煉的有效目的。

Does it work?

它確實有效嗎？

Apparently it does. In randomized,
controlled clinical trials, Lumosity was shown to significantly improve basic
cognitive functions. One study showed students improved their scores on math
tests by 34 percent after using Lumosity for six weeks, significantly greater
gains than those made by other students in the same class, who were not
training with the Lumosity program.

很顯然，這非常有效。通過隨機(jī)臨床對照試驗發(fā)現(xiàn)：Lumosity可以改善基本的認(rèn)知功能。一項研究表明：在經(jīng)過六周的訓(xùn)練過程之后，學(xué)生的數(shù)學(xué)成績可以提高34%，與從未參與Lumosity訓(xùn)練的同班同學(xué)相比，學(xué)習(xí)的進(jìn)步非常明顯。

The company says its users have reported
clearer and quicker thinking, improved memory for names, numbers, directions,
increased alertness and awareness, elevated mood, and better concentration at
work or while driving.

據(jù)這家公司介紹說：接受Lumosity訓(xùn)練的人，明顯感到頭腦清晰、思維敏捷，對于名稱、數(shù)字和方向的記憶能力顯著改善；頭腦的警覺和意識能力明顯提高；工作和駕駛過程中的情緒和注意力顯著增強(qiáng)。

While many of the games at Lumosity are
free, a modest subscription fee is required to use the full program over the
long term.

Lumosity的許多游戲都是免費的，如果要進(jìn)行長期的完整訓(xùn)練，只是適當(dāng)收取一定的訂購費用。

However, Lumosity is currently offering a
free trial of their program to new users so that you can see how well it works
before you decide to subscribe.  The
trial is completely free (no credit card required) and the company believes the
results will speak for themselves.

然而，目前Lumosity網(wǎng)站對新注冊用戶提供免費的試用教程，因此，有利于您在正式訂購之前真正體會到訓(xùn)練教程的良好效果。試用期完全免費，也不用輸入信用卡號碼，在試用過程就會讓您體會到教程的設(shè)計效果。

翻譯：劉慶奎