VOA慢速英语: 大脑成像技术走进非洲儿童
Brain Imaging Comes to Children in Africa
大脑成像技术走进非洲儿童
From VOA Learning English, this is the Technology Report.
这里是美国之音慢速英语科技报道。
Brain imaging was once thought to be too costly and difficult for widespread use in the developing world. But the technology soon may be available in poor countries. Brain imaging creates pictures of brain activity. It uses infrared light -- similar to the light produced by a television remote control. Brain imaging can identify the first signs of cognitive delays, mental problems, in newborns and young children. Such children could be suffering from malnutrition – a poor diet.
大脑成像曾经被认为过于昂贵，而很难在发展中国家广泛使用。但是这项技术很快就可以在贫穷国家被使用了。大脑成像技术会生成大脑活动的图片。该技术使用红外光线——类似于一种电视遥控器所产生的光线。大脑成像技术可以识别出新生儿认知延迟和精神问题的初期迹象，这样的孩子可能会患有营养不良。
The technology has a long name -- functional near-infrared spectroscopy, or f-N-I-R-S. It involves placing an extremely small, soft helmet around a baby's head. Infrared light is sent through the bone protecting the brain. It helps to show whether babies are developing normally for their age.
这项技术有一个很长的名字——功能性近红外光谱，或称f-N-I-R-S。它会将一个非常小的柔软的头盔放在婴儿的脑部，红外光线会穿过保护大脑的头骨。它有助于显示婴儿是否发育正常。
f-N-I-R-S is considered safer than other imaging methods, including MRI or PET scan. And it also can be easily moved. The brain scanner equipment can be loaded into a vehicle. Health workers can drive it from village to village.
f-N-I-R-S被认为是比包括MRI(核磁共振成像)和PET扫描在内的其他成像技术更安全的成像方式，而且它可以很轻易的移动。大脑扫描设备可以装到车上，卫生工作者可以开车带着该设备去各个村庄。
Clare Elwell is a professor of medical physics at University College London. She helped develop the relatively low-cost, non-invasive imaging technology. She says the device measures oxygen in the blood to learn how babies' brains are developing.
克莱尔·艾维尔是伦敦大学医学物理学的教授，她帮助研发了成本相对较低，无创式成像技术，她称，该设备会测量婴儿血液中的氧气来了解婴儿的脑部发育情况。
"And as you use different areas of your brain, you direct oxygen to those different brain areas. And so if we look at the change in the distribution of the oxygen in your brain, we can work out how active your brain is and what your brain is actually processing."
“当你使用你大脑的不同区域时，氧气就会相应的供应到这些不同的区域，所以如果我们查看氧气在你的大脑的分布情况的变化，就能知道你的大脑有多活跃以及你的大脑实际在处理什么。”
Clare Elwell led a study of the testing method in rural Gambia. The babies involved were between four and eight months old. They were examined three times over 15 months. Researchers noted the babies' reactions to different images and sounds.
克莱尔·艾维尔在冈比亚的农村主持了一项关于这种测试方法的研究，该研究所涉及的婴儿的年龄在4到8个月之间，这些婴儿在15个月内被检查了3次，研究人员注意到婴儿对不同的图像和声音反应不同。
"So if we present the babies with visual or auditory stimuli, then we expect certain brain areas to light up, essentially. We expect the oxygen to be diverted to certain brain regions."
“所以如果我们对婴儿进行视觉或听觉的刺激，然后据我们估计，某些特定的大脑区域就会被激活，我们预计氧气就会被转移到这些特定的区域。”
She says that shows if those brain areas are fully developed or mature. And, she says, it shows if they are performing normally.
她称，这能显示出这些脑部区域是否发育成熟，还称，能显示出大脑是否能正常运转。
The babies looked at pictures of objects and people. Human speech and non-human sounds such as running water and bells tested the babies' hearing. And their brain recognition was compared to those of British children.
这些婴儿看着物体和人的图像。人类语言和诸如流水、钟声等非人类声音检测着婴儿们的听力。并将这婴儿的大脑认知同英国儿童进行了对比。
Clare Elwell says poor nutrition and childhood diseases threaten the African children. She says the goal is to identify babies needing to be better fed or treated for health problems that can harm brain development.
克莱尔·艾维尔称，营养不良和儿童疾病一直威胁着非洲儿童的健康成长，并称，我们的目标是确定婴儿需要被更好地喂养或治疗那些有可能影响大脑发育的健康问题。
And that's the Technology Report from VOA Learning English. I'm Jonathan Evans.
这就是美国之音慢速英语科技报道的全部内容，我是乔纳森·埃文森。
Words In The News
imaging - adj., making an image of a body part for medical purposes
scanner - n., equipment used to see inside the body for medical purposes
distribution - n., the act of giving or delivering something to people
mature - adj., having completed natural growth and development
[page]听力原文[/page]
Brain Imaging Comes to Children in Africa
From VOA Learning English, this is the Technology Report.
Brain imaging was once thought to be too costly and difficult for widespread use in the developing world. But the technology soon may be available in poor countries. Brain imaging creates pictures of brain activity. It uses infrared light -- similar to the light produced by a television remote control. Brain imaging can identify the first signs of cognitive delays, mental problems, in newborns and young children. Such children could be suffering from malnutrition – a poor diet.
The technology has a long name -- functional near-infrared spectroscopy, or f-N-I-R-S. It involves placing an extremely small, soft helmet around a baby's head. Infrared light is sent through the bone protecting the brain. It helps to show whether babies are developing normally for their age.
f-N-I-R-S is considered safer than other imaging methods, including MRI or PET scan. And it also can be easily moved. The brain scanner equipment can be loaded into a vehicle. Health workers can drive it from village to village.
 |
Clare Elwell is a professor of medical physics at University College London. She helped develop the relatively low-cost, non-invasive imaging technology. She says the device measures oxygen in the blood to learn how babies' brains are developing.
"And as you use different areas of your brain, you direct oxygen to those different brain areas. And so if we look at the change in the distribution of the oxygen in your brain, we can work out how active your brain is and what your brain is actually processing."
Clare Elwell led a study of the testing method in rural Gambia. The babies involved were between four and eight months old. They were examined three times over 15 months. Researchers noted the babies' reactions to different images and sounds.
"So if we present the babies with visual or auditory stimuli, then we expect certain brain areas to light up, essentially. We expect the oxygen to be diverted to certain brain regions."
She says that shows if those brain areas are fully developed or mature. And, she says, it shows if they are performing normally.
The babies looked at pictures of objects and people. Human speech and non-human sounds such as running water and bells tested the babies' hearing. And their brain recognition was compared to those of British children.
Clare Elwell says poor nutrition and childhood diseases threaten the African children. She says the goal is to identify babies needing to be better fed or treated for health problems that can harm brain development.
And that's the Technology Report from VOA Learning English. I'm Jonathan Evans.
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