Older brains are actually better than younger brains at a few tasks—for example, learning subtle patterns outside the focus of attention or solving crossword puzzles, which relies on stored knowledge. But I'm afraid that younger brains are still better at most other tasks, including those that require us to think outside the box.
年齡較大的腦其實比起更年輕的腦還要更在行一些事--例如,不經意地發現微妙的模式,或是解字謎,那需要靠累積的知識。不過恐怕較年輕的腦在多數其他事上仍表現得比較好,包括那些需要我們跳脫框架思考的事。
Here's an example: They say that you should drink six glasses of water every day. And actually, did you know that when you become dehydrated, your brain tissue shrinks in much the same way that it shrinks as we age? I've got six glasses here, but I'm only gonna fill three of them. And then I'm gonna arrange them in a row, like this. Your job is to figure out how to take these glasses and arrange them so that they alternate—full glass, empty glass, full glass, empty glass, full glass, empty glass.
這裡有個例子:人們說你每天應該喝六杯水。事實上,你知道當你脫水時,你的腦組織會以和老化過程差不多的方式縮水嗎?我這有六個杯子,但我只會裝其中三杯。然後我要把它們排成一排,像這樣。你的工作是想出如何拿這些杯子然後排列,讓它們能夠交錯--滿杯、空杯、滿杯、空杯、滿杯、空杯。
Here's what it should look like when you're done. Seems pretty simple, right? But your task is to rearrange the glasses into this order in the least number of moves possible. Take a minute and think about it.
完成時應該看起來像這樣。似乎滿簡單的,對吧?不過你的任務是盡可能用最少移動次數將杯子排成這種順序。花一分鐘思考一下。
So, how many moves did it take you? Of course, you could do it in three moves. Or you can make them alternate by just moving two glasses. But what would you say if I told you you could make the glasses alternate by only moving a single glass? Here's how. There you go—one move! Did you figure it out?
那麼,你動了幾次?當然,你可以用三次動作做到。或你可以只動兩個杯子來讓它們交錯。不過如果我告訴你,你可以單單移動一個杯子來讓杯子交錯,你會怎麼說?方法是這樣。好啦--一個動作!你有想到嗎?
Solving problems like this is one example of what we call "fluid intelligence," the ability to think logically and solve problems in novel situations. In contrast, stored knowledge, for example, your vocabulary, is an example of what we call "crystallized intelligence." And while crystallized intelligence is largely spared during aging, most kinds of fluid intelligence begin to decline around the age of 20.
解決像這樣的問題是我們稱作「流體智力」的例子之一,流體智力是有邏輯地思考並在新的狀況下解決問題的能力。反之,累積的知識,比方說,你的字彙,就是我們稱作「晶體智力」的一個例子。而儘管晶體智力在老化過程中多半被留下,大多種類的流體智力在二十歲左右開始下降。
- 「依靠」- Rely On
...for example, learning subtle patterns outside the focus of attention or solving crossword puzzles, which relies on stored knowledge.
...例如,不經意地發現微妙的模式,或是解字謎,那需要靠累積的知識。 - 「跳脫框架思考」- Think Outside The Box
But I'm afraid that younger brains are still better at most other tasks, including those that require us to think outside the box.
不過恐怕較年輕的腦在多數其他事上仍表現得比較好,包括那些需要我們跳脫框架思考的事。 - 「成一排、一連串」- In A Row
And then I'm gonna arrange them in a row, like this.
然後我要把它們排成一排,像這樣。 - 「想出」- Figure Out
Your job is to figure out how to take these glasses and arrange them so that they alternate...
你的工作是想出如何拿這些杯子然後排列,讓它們能夠交錯...