TED演讲:什么是疼痛(2)

 　　But modulation¹ networks are also activated² that deliver endorphins and enkephalins, 不过调制网络也被唤醒，去传递安多芬和脑啡肽，

　　chemicals released when you're in pain or during extreme exercise, creating the runner's high. 这些是你疼痛或剧烈运动时释放的化学物质，它使运动员保持高水平。

　　These chemical systems help regulate and reduce pain. 这些化学系统帮助调节并减轻疼痛。

　　All these networks and pathways work together to create your pain experience, 所有这些网络和通路互相作用使你产生疼痛的体验，

　　to prevent further tissue damage, and help you to cope with pain. 减轻肌肉伤害，并帮助你处理疼痛。

　　This system is similar for everyone, 每个人的系统都类似，

　　but the sensitivity and efficacy of these brain circuits determines how much you feel and cope with pain. 不过大脑循环的敏感度和效率决定了你对疼痛的感受和处理疼痛的方式。

　　This is why some people have greater pain than others 这就是为什么有些人觉得比别人疼，

　　and why some develop chronic³ pain that does not respond to treatment, while others respond well. 为什么一些人有长期病痛却并没有因治疗好转，而其他人却好了。

　　Variability in pain sensitivities is not so different than all kinds of variability in responses to other stimuli⁴. 疼痛感受与对刺激的各种反应的差异性没多大差别。

　　Like how some people love roller coasters, but other people suffer from terrible motion sickness. 比如一些人酷爱过山车，其他人就觉得那种剧烈移动很难受。

　　Why does it matter that there is variability in our pain brain circuits? 为什么我们疼痛脑路的差异那么重要呢？

　　Well, there are many treatments for pain, targeting different systems. 首先，针对不同的系统，有许多疼痛的治疗手段。

　　For mild pain, non-prescription medications can act on cells where the pain signals start. 对于轻微的痛苦，非处方药可以作用于导致疼痛的细胞。

　　Other stronger pain medicines and anesthetics work 其他更强的疼痛药和麻醉剂可作用于

　　by reducing the activity in pain-sensing circuits or boosting our coping system, or endorphins. 减轻疼痛感知回路活动或者增强处理系统或脑内啡。

　　Some people can cope with pain using methods that involve distraction⁵, relaxation⁶, meditation⁷, yoga, 一些人可以用某些方法对付疼痛，比如转移注意力、休息、冥想、瑜伽，

　　or strategies that can be taught, like cognitive⁸ behavioral therapy. 或一些可以学到的策略，如认知行为治疗。

　　For some people who suffer from severe chronic pain, 对于一些遭受严重慢性疼痛的人，

　　that is pain that doesn't go away months after their injury should have healed, none of the regular treatments work. 即那种在痊愈几个月后都不会减轻的疼痛，常规治疗不起作用。

　　Traditionally, medical science has been about testing treatments on large groups 一般来说，药物研究是测试大量人群的结果，

　　to determine what would help a majority of patients. 以此判断它是否能帮助大部分患者。

　　But this has usually left out some who didn't benefit from the treatment or experienced side effects. 不过确实有些人没有从治疗中受益或感受到副作用。

　　Now, new treatments that directly stimulate⁹ or block certain pain-sensing attention or modulation networks are being developed,  现在，新的治疗手段如直接刺激或阻断特定的疼痛意识或调整网络已经被研究出来，

　　along with ways to tailor them to individual patients, 它针对于特定的病人，

　　using tools like magnetic resonance¹⁰ imaging to map brain pathways. 使用像磁共振成像工具来绘制脑路。

　　Figuring out how your brain responds to pain is the key to finding the best treatment for you. 研究大脑如何处理疼痛是找到最好治疗办法的关键。

　　That's true personalized medicine. 这才是真的私人治疗。

1 modulation   

n.调制

参考例句：

• The soft modulation of her voice soothed the infant. 她柔和的声调使婴儿安静了。
• Frequency modulation does not allow static to creep in. 频率调制不允许静电干扰混入。

2 activated   

adj. 激活的 动词activate的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The canister is filled with activated charcoal.蒸气回收罐中充满了活性炭。

3 chronic   

adj.(疾病)长期未愈的，慢性的；极坏的

参考例句：

• Famine differs from chronic malnutrition.饥荒不同于慢性营养不良。
• Chronic poisoning may lead to death from inanition.慢性中毒也可能由虚弱导致死亡。

4 stimuli   

n.刺激（物）

参考例句：

• It is necessary to curtail or alter normally coexisting stimuli.必需消除或改变正常时并存的刺激。
• My sweat glands also respond to emotional stimuli.我的汗腺对情绪刺激也能产生反应。

5 distraction   

n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐

参考例句：

• Total concentration is required with no distractions.要全神贯注，不能有丝毫分神。
• Their national distraction is going to the disco.他们的全民消遣就是去蹦迪。

6 relaxation   

n.松弛，放松；休息；消遣；娱乐

参考例句：

• The minister has consistently opposed any relaxation in the law.部长一向反对法律上的任何放宽。
• She listens to classical music for relaxation.她听古典音乐放松。

7 meditation   

n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录

参考例句：

• This peaceful garden lends itself to meditation.这个恬静的花园适于冥想。
• I'm sorry to interrupt your meditation.很抱歉，我打断了你的沉思。

8 cognitive   

adj.认知的，认识的，有感知的

参考例句：

• As children grow older,their cognitive processes become sharper.孩子们越长越大，他们的认知过程变得更为敏锐。
• The cognitive psychologist is like the tinker who wants to know how a clock works.认知心理学者倒很像一个需要通晓钟表如何运转的钟表修理匠。

9 stimulate   

vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋

参考例句：

• Your encouragement will stimulate me to further efforts.你的鼓励会激发我进一步努力。
• Success will stimulate the people for fresh efforts.成功能鼓舞人们去作新的努力。

10 resonance   

n.洪亮；共鸣；共振

参考例句：

• Playing the piano sets up resonance in those glass ornaments.一弹钢琴那些玻璃饰物就会产生共振。
• The areas under the two resonance envelopes are unequal.两个共振峰下面的面积是不相等的。