US researchers have identified the part of the brain that is stimulated by making wagers, which they say could be helpful in understanding and treating gambling addictions and certain mental health disorders.
In a new study led by researchers from the California Institute of Technology, people were asked to choose two cards from a deck and bet one dollar on whether the first or second card would be a higher number.
At the same time, each subject's brain activity was watched using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to show which region was stimulated by risk-taking and the anticipation of a reward.
PHOTO: AFP
The study also found a sort of gambling zone in the brain, controlled by dopamine, which also plays a role in learning and motivation.
The study could help scientists understand behaviors such as gambling addiction — as well as mental illnesses including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder — by helping them to understand which parts of the brain are not working properly.
For example, according to the researchers, when a person with bipolar disorder is experiencing the manic phase (a time when that person is extremely excited, anxious and active), he or she might take big risks because they don't understand how big the risks are. It's also possible that the person might understand the risk, and the problem is with their learning, attentional or working memory or the way their brain makes decisions. Researchers hope this study will help them understand this and other mental health issues. (AFP)
美國科學家已發現人腦中對賭博刺激會產生反應的區域,他們表示,這項發現可能有助於了解及治療賭癮和某些心理疾病。
一項由加州理工學院研究人員所帶領的新研究中,受試者被要求從一副撲克牌中選兩張牌,然後拿出一美元賭哪一張牌的數字大。
同時,研究人員利用「核磁共振造影」監測每位受試者的腦部活動,看大腦哪個區域對冒險行為和期待獎賞的刺激產生反應。
這項研究也發現,人腦中有一塊受神經傳導素多巴胺控制的賭博區,多巴胺在學習和動機方面也扮演重要角色。
藉由幫助科學家們了解大腦哪些區域運作不正常,這項研究有助於他們進一步認識賭癮這類行為及包括精神分裂、躁鬱症在內的心理疾病。
例如,據研究人員表示,處於躁期的精神分裂者(患者極度興奮、不安且活躍的時期)可能會因為錯估風險而作出非常冒險的決定。還有一種可能就是精神分裂者其實明白風險所在,只是他們的學習、注意力、工作記憶,又或者是大腦作決定的過程中出現了問題。研究人員希望這項研究能幫助他們了解這種症狀及其他心理疾病。
(法新社/翻譯:林倩如)
As the priest Antonius Hambroek stood in the dim chamber of Fort Zeelandia, his eldest daughter clung to him, her voice trembling. “Father, don’t go. They’ll kill you, and what will become of Mother and my sisters?” Outside, the sounds of Koxinga’s relentless canon siege boomed through the fortress. The defenders were on the brink of collapse. Starvation gnawed at their resolve, and the air carried the acrid stench of spent gunpowder and rotting flesh. Dutch reinforcements from Batavia had failed to arrive, leaving the garrison isolated and hopeless. Hambroek’s face was calm, though sorrow weighed heavily on his
The Dutch introduced the Indian mango (Mangifera indica) to Taiwan in the 17th century. It is a green-skinned mango with thick fibers that get stuck in the teeth, but it boasts a rich aroma and a unique taste. In 1954, Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture introduced several mango cultivars from Florida, USA, including the Irwin, Haden, and Keitt varieties. After seven years of testing and domestication, the Irwin variety was chosen for promotion. Years later, the sample saplings started to bear fruit. These mangoes were large, with thin, vibrant red peels and golden pulp. The Irwin mangoes were mouth-wateringly sweet and
對話 Dialogue 清清:今天中午我要多吃一點,不然晚上可能會吃不飽。 Qīngqing: Jīntiān zhōngwǔ wǒ yào duō chī yìdiǎn, bùrán wǎnshàng kěnéng huì chībùbǎo. 華華:怎麼了?為什麼會吃不飽? Huáhua: Zěnmele? Wèishénme huì chībùbǎo? 清清:今天大年初七,是「人日節」,傳統上結了婚的女兒要回家給父母送長壽麵,而且最好是素的,我姐姐會回來,只吃素麵,我應該很快就餓了。 Qīngqing: Jīntiān Dànián chūqī, shì “Rénrì jié,” chuántǒng shàng jiéle hūn de nǚ’ér yào huíjiā gěi fùmǔ sòng chángshòumiàn, érqiě zuìhǎo shì sù de, wǒ jiějie huì huílái, zhǐ chī sùmiàn, wǒ yīnggāi hěn kuài jiù èle. 華華:我還是第一次聽說有「人日節」呢!這是怎麼來的啊? Huáhua: Wǒ háishì dì yī cì tīngshuō yǒu “Rénrì jié” ne! Zhè shì zěnme lái de a? 清清:老一輩的人說,女媧是在第七天造出了「人」,所以今天可說是我們每個人的「生日」呢!生日快樂! Qīngqing: Lǎoyíbèi de rén shuō, Nǚwā shì zài dì qī tiān zào chūle “rén,” suǒyǐ jīntiān kěshuōshì wǒmen měi ge rén de “shēngrì” ne! Shēngrì kuàilè! 華華:你也是啊!欸?那前六天女媧都做了什麼呢? Huáhua: Nǐ yěshì a! Éi? Nà
As we bundle up in thick coats to stay warm during the winter, there is a population that has already adapted to extremely low temperatures. These people live in the remote city of Yakutsk, the coldest city on Earth. Yakutsk is situated in the heart of Siberia, which is the capital of the Sakha Republic in Russia. This historic mining city began to flourish in the 19th century following the discovery of gold deposits. Given its construction on permafrost, the average temperature in the city remains below 0°C for over half the year, with winter temperatures dropping to an astonishing -50°C.