英语听力文摘 English Digest 76、了解杏仁核

　　Past studies have suggested the amygdala is important in emotional responses. Volunteers who are shown frightening pictures, for example, have a sudden increase of blood flow to their amygdalas.
Another study has complicated this picture–by adding smells. Volunteers in this study, which was conducted by Adam Anderson at Stanford University, first climbed into an MRI. That’s a machine that lets us see the brain in action by lighting¹ up the parts that are most active.
Then the subjects sniffed². First they sniffed fruity odors. Then they sniffed nasty, rotten odors. The results? Low intensities³ of either nasty or nice odors didn’t cause any response. But once the intensity⁴ of the odors passed a certain threshold–bang, the amygdala lit up, showing that this information was being processed there. One possible explanation is that the amygdala isn’t just a processor for visual information, but for anything that requires an emotional tag–and that tag, apparently⁵, can be either positive or negative.
Think of it this way. Not only does that old garbage can stink⁶, I don’t like to be near it. The first is an objective assessment⁷ of the world, while the second is a feeling. Why have a feeling about smells? Probably because it helps you behave correctly. Not only are you drawn⁸ to yummy ripe fruit, but you don’t try to get a midnight snack out of the trash.
amygdalas:杏仁核(脑底重要部位)
sniff:嗅，纹
odor:气味
tag:标签
objective:客观的
snack:小吃，点心

1 lighting   

n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光

参考例句：

• The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
• The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

2 sniffed   

v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说

参考例句：

• When Jenney had stopped crying she sniffed and dried her eyes. 珍妮停止了哭泣，吸了吸鼻子，擦干了眼泪。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The dog sniffed suspiciously at the stranger. 狗疑惑地嗅着那个陌生人。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 intensities   

n.强烈( intensity的名词复数 )；（感情的）强烈程度；强度；烈度

参考例句：

• At very high intensities, nuclear radiations cause itching and tingling of the skin. 当核辐射强度很高时，它能使皮肤感到发痒和刺痛。 来自辞典例句
• They ask again and again in a variety of ways and intensities. 他们会以不同的方式和强度来不停地问，直到他得到自己想要的答案为止。 来自互联网

4 intensity   

n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度

参考例句：

• I didn't realize the intensity of people's feelings on this issue.我没有意识到这一问题能引起群情激奋。
• The strike is growing in intensity.罢工日益加剧。

5 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

6 stink   

vi.发出恶臭；糟透，招人厌恶；n.恶臭

参考例句：

• The stink of the rotten fish turned my stomach.腐烂的鱼臭味使我恶心。
• The room has awful stink.那个房间散发着难闻的臭气。

7 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

8 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。