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If you could add cells anywhere in your body, you might pick your brain. More brain cells should make you smarter, right? Well, a new study shows that they might just make you fatter. Becauseanimals that make new nerve cells in a brain region that controls hunger tend to pack on the pounds. The results appear in the journal Nature Neuroscience.

In the late 1990s scientists found that adult mammals can make new brain cells in an area associated with learning and memory. Since then, studies have shown that new neurons also arise in the hypothalamus, a structure associated with regulating body temperature, sleep and appetite. So, what are those cells up to?

Using techniques to track the birth of new neurons, researchers found that mice fed a high-fat diet make four times as many new cells in the hypothalamus than do animals raised on standard chow. When the scientists eliminated the source of these new cells, the chubby¹ mice gained less weight.

This mechanism² might have evolved to encourage animals to store up body fat when food is plentiful³. Which used to alternate with lean times. But in these boon⁴ times, your brain may be your waist enemy.

Thanks for the minute for Scientific Americans 60 second Science I am Karen Hopkin.

pack on the pounds: gain weight

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1 chubby
adj.丰满的，圆胖的
参考例句：
He is stocky though not chubby.他长得敦实，可并不发胖。 The short and chubby gentleman over there is our new director.那个既矮又胖的绅士是我们的新主任。

2 mechanism
n.机械装置；机构，结构
参考例句：
The bones and muscles are parts of the mechanism of the body.骨骼和肌肉是人体的组成部件。 The mechanism of the machine is very complicated.这台机器的结构是非常复杂的。

3 plentiful
adj.富裕的，丰富的
参考例句：
Their family has a plentiful harvest this year.他们家今年又丰收了。 Rainfall is plentiful in the area.这个地区雨量充足。

4 boon
n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠
参考例句：
A car is a real boon when you live in the country.在郊外居住，有辆汽车确实极为方便。 These machines have proved a real boon to disabled people.事实证明这些机器让残疾人受益匪浅。