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译文简介：想变聪明吗？那就赶快参加脑力训练吧！ How Brain Training Can Make You
Significantly Smarter 如何进行脑力训练,才能使你变得更聪明？ 
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." 许多中年人常会感到记忆力和头脑不如从前。我们经常会突然找不到钥匙，或者突然忘记熟人的名字，甚至会忘记我们曾经喜欢的一首老乐曲的名字。关于大脑的退化，我们婉转地把它称作“老年时分”（老年人的瞬间记忆丧失）。 While seemingly innocent, this loss of
mental focus can potentially have a detrimental impact on our professional,
social, and personal well-being. 这看起来问题不大，但精神集中能力的丧失，对于我们的职业生涯、社会交往以及个人生活都能产生有害影响。 It happens to most of us, but is it
inevitable? 这种现象我们绝大多数人都不能逃避，但能否避免吗？ 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. 对此，神经科学家已经证明，实际上是可以改善的。大脑也跟我们的肌肉一样，也需要进行锻炼，适当的精神训练能够明显改善我们的基本认知功能。从本质上来讲，思想是大脑中的神经连接过程。在某种程度来讲，我们在进行神经连接（直接影响人的聪明程度）方面的特殊能力是与生俱来的。 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，美国旧金山一家新型的互联网公司已经采取了有关措施并开发了“大脑训练教程”，它可以从实际上帮助人们改善并恢复头脑的灵敏程度。 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不单是训练人类大脑能力的在线网站，因为这家网站将有关的训练项目添加到了网络课程之中，进而系统地改善人的记忆力和注意力。这个培训教程还随时跟踪学员的学习进度，并对你的表现和改善程度给予详尽的信息反馈。更加重要的是，它会经常调整并升级有关训练游戏，以促进脑力的不断提升，这也正像只有通过强化肌肉的耐力、锻炼各部位肌肉的功能，才能达到常规身体锻炼的有效目的。 Does it work? 它确实有效吗？ 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. 很显然，这非常有效。通过随机临床对照试验发现：Lumosity可以改善基本的认知功能。一项研究表明：在经过六周的训练过程之后，学生的数学成绩可以提高34%，与从未参与Lumosity训练的同班同学相比，学习的进步非常明显。 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. 据这家公司介绍说：接受Lumosity训练的人，明显感到头脑清晰、思维敏捷，对于名称、数字和方向的记忆能力显著改善；头脑的警觉和意识能力明显提高；工作和驾驶过程中的情绪和注意力显著增强。 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的许多游戏都是免费的，如果要进行长期的完整训练，只是适当收取一定的订购费用。 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网站对新注册用户提供免费的试用教程，因此，有利于您在正式订购之前真正体会到训练教程的良好效果。试用期完全免费，也不用输入信用卡号码，在试用过程就会让您体会到教程的设计效果。 翻译：刘庆奎
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