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For all of their stomach-turning(1) gore, horror films and haunted houses attract people in droves(2). This ability of the human brain to turn fear on its head could be a key to treating phobias(3) and anxiety disorders, according to scientists.
无数的人们被那些令人反胃的血渍、恐怖电影和鬼屋深深吸引着。科学家称人脑对恐怖事物的反应将是治疗恐怖症和焦虑症的关键。
When people get scared, their bodies automatically triggers the "fight or flight" response—their heart rates increase, they breathe faster, their muscles tense, and their attention focuses for quick and effective responses to threats.
当人们受到惊吓，他们的身体会自动启动“斗或逃”反应—他们的心率升高、呼吸加快、肌肉紧缩、注意力随时准备快速有效地应对威胁。
"It's nature's way of protecting us," said clinical psychologist David Rudd.
临床心理学家大卫·拉德说：“这是自我保护的自然反应。”
If the brain knows there is no risk of really being harmed, it experiences this adrenaline(4) rush as enjoyable, Rudd explained. The key to enjoying such thrills lies in knowing how to properly gauge(5) the risk of harm.
拉德解释说：“如果大脑知道并不存在真正的危险，就会把这种肾上腺素大量分泌当作享受。享受恐惧的关键是知道如何准确估计受惊吓的风险。”
"Young children may overestimate the risk of harm and experience true 'fear.' When that happens you see the child cling to a parent and cry, convinced there's a very real chance of harm," Rudd told LiveScience. On the other hand, "adults may well scream but quickly follow it with a laugh since they readily recognize there's no chance for real harm."
拉德对《生命科学》杂志说：“小孩可能会过高估计受惊吓风险，感觉到真正的‘恐怖。’这时候你会看见小孩紧紧抓住父母哭起来，认为真的有可能受伤。成年人虽然也会尖叫，但随后意识到并没有真正的风险的时候就会笑出来。”
This phenomenon also explains why people can enjoy skydiving(6), bungee(7) jumping and extreme sports.
这个现象也能解释为什么人们喜欢跳伞、蹦极和极限运动。
"In these cases, those engaging in high-risk activities will tell you that the risk is lowered by their training and precautions(8)," enabling them to enjoy the experience, Rudd said. The key structure in the brain responsible for this effect is likely the amygdala(9), he added, which is key to forming and storing memories linked with emotions.
拉德说：“这时人们相信如果训练有素、小心谨慎就能降低高风险运动的危险，于是他们很享受这个过程。大脑中负责这一反应的关键部位和杏仁核十分相似。杏仁核负责形成和储存与情绪有关的记忆。”
The ability to enjoy fear makes evolutionary sense, said environmental psychologist Frank McAndrew.
环境心理学家弗兰克·麦克安德鲁说享受恐怖的能力是进化的表现。
"We're motivated to seek out this kind of stimulation to explore new possibilities, to find new sources of food, better places to live and good allies," McAndrew said. "People enjoy deviations(10) from the norm—a change of pace, within limits."
“我们被此种需求驱使探索新的可能，寻找新的食物来源、更好的居住地和好的合作伙伴。人们在一定限度内享受非正常事物—一种节奏的变化。”
1. stomach-turning：反胃的
2. drove：一大群
3. phobia：恐怖症
4. adrenaline:肾上腺素
5. gauge：估量
6. skydiving：跳伞运动
7. bungee：橡皮筋
8. precaution：防范，警惕
9. amygdala：扁桃体，杏仁体
10. deviation：背离，偏离
（CRI ENGLISH) |
