British researchers have said they were stunned to discover that people get more of a buzz from eating chocolate than passionately kissing their lovers.
"These results really surprised and intrigued us," said psychologist David Lewis, who led a study that recorded brain activity and heart rate from volunteers who tasted pieces of dark chocolate or kissed their partners.
"There is no doubt that chocolate beats kissing hands down when it comes to providing a long-lasting body and brain buzz — a buzz that, in many cases, lasted four times as long as the most passionate kiss."
PHOTO: AP
While researchers expected chocolate, especially dark chocolate, to raise heart rates, he said, "both the length of this increase together with the powerful effects it had on the mind were something none of us had anticipated."
The 12 volunteers, all aged in their 20s, wore heart monitors and had electrodes attached to their heads as each placed a piece of dark chocolate on the tongue and, without chewing, indicated when it started to melt.
Couples were later invited to kiss each other in the same way as they would do normally.
The study found that — at the point chocolate melts in the mouth — all areas of the brain are stimulated far more intensely and for longer than from kissing.
Chocolate also made the heart beat faster, according to the study supervised by Lewis, formerly a University of Sussex psychologist who now runs a private research company called The Mind Lab.
Some people saw the number of heart beats per minute rise from a resting rate of about 60 to as high as 140. Kissing also made the couples' hearts pound, but not for as long.
Both sexes showed the same responses in the tests. (afp)
英國研究員表示,他們很驚訝地發現,人們吃巧克力所得到的歡愉比熱吻還多。
心理學家大衛.路易斯說︰「研究結果真的讓我們既驚喜又好奇。」他是這項研究的領導者,記錄志願者品嚐黑巧克力塊或接吻時的大腦活動與心跳頻率。
「就身體與大腦的愉悅持久度來看,巧克力無疑打敗接吻。許多例子中,這種愉悅感持久的時間是熱情接吻的四倍。」
他說,研究人員原本就預期巧克力會讓心跳加速,尤其是黑巧克力,但是「心跳加速所持續的時間與強大的心理效果,都超乎我們意料之外。」
十二位受訪者的年齡都界於二十至三十歲間,他們戴上心跳監測器,頭部貼著電極片,每個人舌上放一塊黑巧克力,不能咬,等巧克力開始溶化。
情侶們隨後應邀如往常一般接吻。
研究發現,巧克力在嘴裡溶化時,大腦各部位所受的刺激要比接吻更激烈也更持久。
路易斯指導的研究發現,巧克力也會讓心跳加速。大衛.路易斯曾任賽薩克斯大學的心理學教授,目前經營一家名為「心理實驗室」的私人研究機構。
有些人每分鐘的心跳數更從平靜時的六十下跳到一百四十下。接吻也會讓情侶內心如小鹿亂撞,但沒有那麼持久。
測驗時,男女兩性的反應雷同。 (法新社/翻譯︰賴美君)
SAY WHAT? 說說看
buzz 愉悅
In the article buzz is used to describe an elated feeling. Buzz also has other uses in English. If you ask somebody, "What's the buzz?" then you want to know what the latest news and gossip is. Buzz can also be used to describe making a phone call. "When I find out what time the show starts I'll give you a buzz." It can also be used to describe the button and action of a door intercom system. "When you get here just press the buzzer and I'll buzz you up."
If you want someone to go away you could say "buzz off." Remember, this should only be used with friends or children.
在本文中,「buzz」是用來描述一種興高采烈的感覺。「buzz」在英文中還有別的意思。假如你問某人「what's the buzz?」,你希望得知最新的消息與八卦。「buzz」也可以意指一通電話。例如︰「等我得知那場秀開演的時間,就會致電給你」。「buzz」也可以用來描述大門對講機的按鍵與動作,如︰「等你到了,只要按門鈴(buzzer),我就會開門讓你上來」。
假如你希望某人離開,你就可以說「buzz off」。但要記住,這用法只能用在朋友或孩子身上。
OUT LOUD 對話練習
Claire: Did you read about that study about chocolate and kissing?
Matt: I sure did. I'm not sure I believe them though.
Claire: Why ever not?
Matt: Well, I'm pretty confident that my kissing is A1!
Claire: Yes, dear. Now, do you think you could pick me up a nice bar of chocolate when you go down to the shop?
克萊兒︰你讀到了有關巧克力與接吻的那篇研究報告嗎?
麥特︰當然。不過我不太信這一套。
克萊兒︰為什麼不信呢?
麥特︰我很有自信,我的吻功蓋世!
克萊兒︰是啊,親愛的。那麼待會你下樓買東西時,可不可以幫我買一條好吃的巧克力?
A1 一流,蓋世
You can say that something is A1 if you think that it is the best. For example "This motorbike helmet is top of the line, it's A1. I'll definitely buy one when I get paid."
假如你認為某樣東西是最好的,你就可以說它是「A1」。例如︰「這款機車安全帽的設計走在時代尖端,是一流極品。發薪時我一定會買一頂」。
A: Artificial intelligence technology has been causing controversy lately: a student was caught cheating with AI to win the grand prize in an art contest. B: That’s so absurd. Does this mean that AI paints better than humans? A: Maybe. Luckily, the student was later disqualified. B: And more absurdly, it’s becoming more and more popular to use AI technology to “resurrect” people. A: Yeah, some netizens even posted videos featuring the late singer CoCo Lee, who was “resurrected” by them with AI software. A: 人工智慧的爭議不斷,有學生違規使用AI參加美術展,甚至贏得首獎。 B: 真誇張,這是不是代表AI比人類還強大? A: 或許吧,幸好得獎資格被取消。 B: 還有更誇張的︰讓死者重現的「AI復活」技術越來越熱門。 A: 對啊,還有網友製作已故歌后李玟「復活」的影片呢! (By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times/台北時報張聖恩)
It’s no secret that Japanese people have a deep affection for noodles. Like in the rest of East Asia, noodles are an important staple food, second only to rice. Japanese people have enjoyed noodles for over 1,000 years. The first noodles came from China and were introduced around 800 CE. As time passed, noodles in Japan not only became widespread but also developed some unique Japanese characteristics. The three most popular types of noodles in Japan are ramen, soba, and udon. Ramen, typically made from wheat flour, is usually thin and firm. The dough is kneaded and left to
Rice is an essential ingredient in Taiwanese cuisine. Many foods are made of rice, adding more variety to our cooking, such as rice cake, or “gui.” Wagui is made by steaming rice flour batter in a bowl. The term “gui” refers to a type of food made from rice, while “wa” refers to a bowl. The pronunciation of “gui” in Taiwanese Hokkien is similar to the word for “nobility” in Chinese, so it is common for people to prepare various types of gui, including wagui, as offerings to the gods or ancestors,. 米是台灣重要的主食,用米製成的食品十分多元,豐富我們的飲食,如米做成的「粿」。粿的意思是米做成的糕點,碗粿是將在來米漿倒入碗中蒸熟,因而得名。粿因為音同「貴」,因此碗粿等粿食常用作供品祭拜神明和祖先。 nobility (n.) 高貴,高尚;貴族 offering (n.) 供品 While Taiwan may not be
Continued from yesterday(延續自昨日) https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang As with many aspects of Japanese culture, there is etiquette to follow when you enjoy noodles. To fully experience noodles like a local on your next visit to Japan, consider these simple guidelines. First, be careful where you put your chopsticks. Don’t leave them sticking up in the broth or set them at the side of the bowl. When you have finished eating or if you’re taking a break, place them on the chopstick rest next to the bowl. Also, it is impolite to wave chopsticks around or bring them above mouth-level. Second, don’t take too