時差N小時:健忘癥 Amnesia

When we remember something, the neurons in ourbrains communicate with each other in aparticular way.

我們在記憶一些事情的時候，大腦里的神經(jīng)元會以一種特殊的方式進(jìn)行交流。

The chemical and sometimes even structural changesthat occur create a pathway called a memory trace.

這種化學(xué)物質(zhì)的結(jié)構(gòu)時而發(fā)生變化產(chǎn)生一種叫“記憶痕跡”的路徑。

Signals traveling along these traces are what allow usto remember things.

信號通過這些路徑傳輸，這樣我們就可以記住事情了。

When the chemical changes first occur, they create short term memory, or things we rememberfor only a brief time.

化學(xué)物質(zhì)最初發(fā)生變化時，就制造出短期記憶或是一些我們只能記很短時間的事情。

But short-term memory can become long term memory if the memory trace is activatedenough so that it creates a long-term pathway in the brain.

如果記憶痕跡足夠活躍在大腦里制造出一條長期路徑的話，短期記憶可以變成長期。

This process is called consolidation.

這個過程叫加強(qiáng)。

When something interrupts the memory-storage process–like a hard knock to the head–newlyformed memories aren't stored for the long run and you can't remember things that justhappened.

當(dāng)記憶儲存的過程被打斷—就像頭被狠狠的敲擊。新形成的記憶就不會持續(xù)很久，所以就不能記住剛剛發(fā)生的事情。

This is called anterogradeamnesia.

這叫作順行性遺忘癥。

Retrograde amnesia which is when you can't recall things from your long term memory either.

逆行性遺忘癥是不記得以前發(fā)生的事。

Luckily, in many cases of amnesia memory eventually returns, although the incident thatcausedamnesia is often never recalled.

幸運(yùn)的是，在許多健忘癥的案例中，大多數(shù)最終都會恢復(fù)記憶。雖然引起失憶的原因也通常不記得。