第1509期:Why we yawn

It’s a question that has puzzled scientists for a long time: why exactly do we yawn? 这是一个困扰科学家很久的问题：我们到底为什么会打哈欠？In a recent breakthrough, scientists have discovered the part of the brain responsible for contagious yawning. It’s called the primary motor cortex, and controls movement in the body. When triggered it makes us yawn. But we can’t choose to yawn – it’s an involuntary imitation of other people. You know how it goes: your friend yawns, you yawn. 在最近的一项突破中，科学家们发现了负责传染性打哈欠的大脑部分。它被称为初级运动皮层，控制着身体的运动。当被触发时，它会让我们打哈欠。但我们不能选择打哈欠——这是对他人的不自觉模仿。你知道怎么回事：你的朋友打哈欠，你打哈欠。Knowing which section of the brain is involved is only part of the answer. There is still a deeper question of ‘why’. And we don’t only yawn when others do, we sometimes yawn alone.知道涉及大脑的哪个部分只是答案的一部分。还有一个更深层次的问题是“为什么”。我们不仅会在别人打哈欠的时候打哈欠，有时我们自己也会打哈欠。So, let’s start with the physiological theories behind yawning. As far back as 400BC, Greek physician Hippocrates speculated that yawning released harmful gases from the body, like “steam escaping from a cauldron”. His colourful theory is now, sadly, discounted. 所以，让我们从打哈欠背后的生理学理论开始。早在公元前 400 年，希腊医生希波克拉底就推测，打哈欠会从身体中释放出有害气体，就像“蒸汽从大锅中逸出”。可悲的是，他丰富多彩的理论现在被打折扣了。A more recent idea suggests that we yawn in order to cool down the brain. Just like a busy computer processor, our brains can overheat. Psychologist Gordon Gallup from the University at Albany has argued that the act of yawning delivers a rush of oxygen to the brain, helping us think more clearly. 最近的一个想法表明，我们打哈欠是为了让大脑降温。就像繁忙的计算机处理器一样，我们的大脑也会过热。奥尔巴尼大学的心理学家戈登·盖洛普认为，打哈欠的行为会为大脑提供大量氧气，帮助我们更清晰地思考。What about the connection between yawning and tiredness? We certainly yawn more when we’re feeling sleepy or sluggish, but why is this? Theories that it helps give the body extra energy are largely discredited, as we don’t yawn when we exercise, a time when we definitely need more get-up-and-go! 打哈欠和疲倦之间有什么联系？当我们感到困倦或呆滞时，我们当然会更多地打哈欠，但这是为什么呢？认为它有助于为身体提供额外能量的理论在很大程度上是不可信的，因为我们在锻炼时不会打哈欠，而此时我们肯定需要更多的起床运动！Psychologist Catriona Morrison from the University of Leeds says yawning is an ancient reflex.  She told the BBC that it may have started in “the days of cavemen when someone had to be on watch all the time - yawning increases cerebral blood flow so can improve alertness.” 利兹大学的心理学家卡特里奥娜·莫里森说，打哈欠是一种古老的反射。她告诉 BBC，这可能始于“穴居人的时代，那时有人必须时刻保持警惕——打哈欠会增加脑血流量，从而提高警觉性。”What about our friends' contagious yawning? Some think it comes down to empathy. While all vertebrate mammals yawn, only humans and chimpanzees ‘catch’ yawns from others. Studies have shown we yawn more frequently when in the company of close relatives and friends. Could yawning actually help us cement our closest relationships? 我们朋友的传染性打哈欠怎么办？有些人认为这归结为同理心。虽然所有脊椎动物都打哈欠，但只有人类和黑猩猩会“捕捉”其他动物的打哈欠。研究表明，在近亲和朋友的陪伴下，我们打哈欠的频率更高。打哈欠真的能帮助我们巩固最亲密的关系吗？If it does, next time you yawn in company, don’t feel too embarrassed. You’re just showing off your people skills.如果是这样，下次你在公司打哈欠时，不要觉得太尴尬。你只是在炫耀你的人际交往能力。词汇表contagious 会传染的motor 肌肉运动的，运动神经的cortex （尤指大脑或其他器官的）皮层involuntary 不由自主的physiological 生理的physician 医生（尤指内科医生）cauldron （通常指架在火上的）大锅colourful 有趣的，有声有色的discounted 大打折扣的，有所减弱的overheat 负荷过多，承载过多rush （身体的）一阵感觉sluggish 行动迟缓的discredited 受到怀疑的，被质疑的get-up-and-go 干劲reflex 本能反应cerebral 大脑的come down to 归结为，归根结底在于empathy 共鸣，共感vertebrate 有脊椎的cement 巩固（友谊）people skills 人际交往能力