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Music Therapy: The Healing Power of Sound 音乐谜样的疗效

課文朗讀

課文中英文講解

繁體中文譯本

The human mind serves as a storage container for our memories. For one 85-year-old woman, however, the wonderful memories of her life have vanished. “What is this place? Who are you?” Her confusion is apparent. A young man gently takes her frail hands and responds, “It’s me, mom. We’re at home.”

人脑是记忆的储藏库，然而对一位八十五岁的老妇人而言，一生的美好记忆却都已消逝，「这是什么地方？你是谁？」她显然非常困惑。一名年轻男子轻柔地握着她虚弱的手，回答道：「妈，是我，我们在家里。」

Suffering from Alzheimer’s disease is a lonely battle. Patients’ questions are often simple, but the answers are much more complex. There are times when Alzheimer’s patients will not even remember their own names. Although the disease cannot be cured, a new treatment is now adding a little hope for those who have it.

阿兹海默症患者面对的是场孤独的战役。他们的问题通常很简单，但答案却复杂得多。有时他们甚至不记得自己的名字。尽管此病无法根治，现在却有种新疗法，可为患者带来一丝希望。

According to scientists, one of the strongest and easiest ways to remember something is through music. People commonly associate songs with friends, special events and, of course, first kisses. Hearing the right songs can trigger these memories and allow listeners to experience their special moments time and again. Because of this music therapy has become one of the leading therapies in treating Alzheimer’s disease.

科学家指出，记忆事物最强效也最容易的方法之一，就是透过音乐。人们常由歌曲联想到朋友、特别事件，当然也包括初吻。听到合适的歌曲能勾起这些回忆，让聆听者一再重温特别的时刻。正因如此，音乐疗法已成为治疗阿兹海默症的主要疗法之一。

Music therapists use tunes from a few decades ago in hopes that they will stir up associated memories in their patients. Listening to an old Sesame Street jingle, for example, might trigger rare laughter in a patient who suddenly remembers he has children and grandchildren. Even better, a classic love song by Frank Sinatra might briefly remind someone that he is happily married.

音乐治疗师使用几年前的曲调，希望能勾起患者的相关记忆。比方说，聆听一首《芝麻街》的老歌，可能使患者突然想起自己的儿孙，因而难得地开怀大笑；更棒的是，一首法兰克．辛纳屈的经典情歌，也可能让人短暂忆起自己幸福的婚姻。

Vocabulary

therapy [ˋθɛrəpɪ] n. 治疗，疗法

frail [frel] adj. 身体虚弱的

treatment [ˋtritmənt] n. 治疗

trigger [ˋtrɪgɚ] v. 触发，引起

stir up: 激起；煽动  

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vanish [ˋvænɪʃ] v. 消失

apparent [əˋpærənt] adj. 明显的

suffer from 受...之苦; 受...困扰

complex [ˋkɑmplɛks] adj. 复杂的

time and again 反复地, 再三地, 屡次, 一再

jingle [ˋdʒɪŋg!] n. 叮当声

rare [rɛr] adj. 罕见的

課文中英文講解

The belief in the healing power of music dates back to the writings of Plato and Aristotle. However, it wasn’t until WWIIthat its positive effects were used medically. Musicians would play at veteran’s hospitals for soldiers suffering both physically and mentally. Doctors quickly noticed improvements in their patients. Then, in 1944, Michigan State University launched the first-ever music therapy program. Today, music therapists are found in hospitals, nursing homes, and hospices.

早在柏拉图及亚里士多德的著作中，便曾提及相信音乐具有疗效。但直到二次大战期间，音乐的正面攻效才开始应用于医学上。当乐师前往退伍军人医院为身心受创的军人演奏音乐时，医生很快便注意到他们的病情有所改善。接着，在1944年，密执安州立大学首开先例推出音乐治疗课程。如今，医院、疗养院及安宁病房内都看得到音乐治疗师的踪影。

In a recent one-month study, therapists observed Alzheimer’s patients enjoying 30 to 40 minutes of music a day, five days a week. They discovered that the levels of healthy brain chemicals known to affect mental state rose and remained high for weeks thereafter. This made patients more active and cooperative, and helped them sleep better at night.

在近期一项为期一个月的研究中，治疗师让阿兹海默症患者一周五天，每天聆听三、四十分钟音乐以进行观察。他们发现，影响心智状态的健康脑部化学物质之含量因而提升，之后并维持了几周的时间。患者因此变得更活泼、配合度更高，晚上也睡得较安稳。

The results are also good news for patients who have suffered from strokes or have Parkinson’s disease. When some of these patients listen to rhythmic music, it is as if they were dancing. Their muscles synchronize with the beat and start moving. In the same way, those who can no longer vocalize a word sometimes miraculously break out singing.

这项研究结果对中风患者或帕金森氏症患者来说也是个好消息。其中一些患者听见节奏强烈的音乐时，肌肉会配合节拍开始活动，几乎就像是在跳舞。同样地，那些已无法说话的患者，有时甚至奇迹似地突然哼起歌来。

Exactly how music therapy works remains a mystery that researchers hope to solve. While it is not a cure, the positive effects of music therapy are certainly music to the ears.

音乐疗法的原理仍是研究人员试图解开的谜题。尽管无法治愈病人，音乐疗法的正面功效绝对是众所期待的好消息。

−by Matthew Wilson

Vocabulary

improvement [ɪmˋpruvmənt] n. 改进，改善

rhythmic [ˋrɪðmɪk] adj. 有节奏的

miraculously [məˋrækjələslɪ] adv. 神奇地

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date back to 起源, 追溯...

medically [ˋmɛdɪklɪ] adv. 医学上地

launch [lɔntʃ] v. 开办；发起；使开始从事

first-ever [͵fɝstˋɛvɚ] adj. 破天荒第一次（或第一个）的

hospice [ˋhɑspɪs] n.〔晚期病人的〕赡养院﹐善终医院

observe [əbˋzɝv] v. 观察

cooperative [koˋɑpə͵retɪv] adj. 合作的

stroke [strok] n. 中风

synchronize [ˋsɪŋkrənaɪz] v. 使协调；使同步

vocalize [ˋvok!͵aɪz] v. 发声

break out 爆发,突然发生

while [hwaɪl] conj. 虽然，尽管

music to the ears: 佳音; 好消息  something pleasing to hear about

Reading Questions

1.   What is the author’s attitude towards music therapy?

A.  That it is a useful treatment for Alzheimer’s.

B.  That it has no place in the medical field.

C.  That it should only be used in special cases.

D.  That it is just a passing trend.

2.   Which of the following statements can be inferred from the article? 

A.  Music therapy only works on those who have Alzheimer’s.

B.  Music therapy is a definite cure for Alzheimer’s.

C.  Music therapy can bring back memories that may otherwise have been lost.

D.  Music therapy will soon be outdated.

3.   What is the purpose of this article?

A.  To show that there is no cure for Alzheimer’s.

B.  To expose the inadequacy of the medical profession.

C.  To inform of a new treatment that is giving people hope.

D.  To introduce a new kind of music.

Answer