你能把自己的意識轉移到另一個身體裡嗎？：英語精讀講義

In the movie Selfless,

在電影《Selfless》中，

which hits theaters July 10th, 片語搭配

這部片將於7月10日上映。

Sir Ben Kingsley transfers his consciousness to Ryan Reynolds' body

班·金斯利爵士把自己的意識轉移到萊恩·雷諾斯的身體裡，

in an effort to stay alive forever 片語搭配

想藉此永遠活下去，

and effectively become immortal

並真正獲得永生。

in a process called shedding, 文化背景

這個過程稱為「蛻換」，

which sounds pretty awesome.

聽起來實在太酷了。

I mean,

我的意思是，

who wouldn't want more time to accomplish their dreams and goals 表達脈絡

誰不想有更多時間去實現自己的夢想與目標，

in a younger body of your choice. 片語搭配

還能擁有一具自己挑選的年輕身體呢？

Try being a professional athlete

你可以試著成為職業運動員，

or solve the world's greatest problems.

或是解決全世界最棘手的問題。

But is shedding actually plausible? 表達脈絡

但「蛻換」真的可行嗎？

Could you really be immortal in this way?

你真的能用這種方式獲得永生嗎？

First, 表達脈絡

首先，

we need to understand how memories are stored.

我們得了解記憶是如何儲存的。

Your brain is a 3-lb lump of fatty tissue 文法

你的大腦是一團重約3磅的脂肪組織，

that contains about 86 billion brain cells called neurons. 文法

裡面約有860億個稱為神經元的腦細胞。

By passing electricity or chemicals between them, 文法

藉由在彼此之間傳遞電流或化學物質，

neurons can send signals to each other.

神經元就能互相傳送訊號。

Most neuroscientists believe memory is stored as a network of neurons

多數神經科學家認為，記憶儲存在神經元構成的網路中，

that form links with each other and all fire at the same time. 用詞

這些神經元彼此連結，並同時放電。

Each time a memory is recalled, 文法

每當一段記憶被喚起時，

the same network of neurons fires together.

同一個神經元網路就會一起放電。

In fact,

事實上，

scientists have shown that if you stimulate certain parts of the brain with electricity,

科學家已證明，如果用電流刺激大腦的特定區域，

you can cause an individual to recall certain memories, 文法

就能讓人回想起某些記憶，

for example, the smell of burnt toast.

例如烤焦吐司的氣味。

So, to download a memory, 慣用語

所以，要下載一段記憶，

we could simply track which neurons are activated when you're thinking about it. 文法

我們只要追蹤你想到它時有哪些神經元被活化。

And as we explained in a previous video,

正如我們在先前的影片中解釋過的，

scientists have already done this

科學家已經做到了這一點：

by using computers to match these patterns of firing neurons with real images or scenes,

利用電腦，把這些神經元的放電模式與真實影像或場景配對起來。

we can already read people's minds to a limited degree. 講解

我們已經能在一定程度上讀懂別人的心思。

Many scientists believe it should one day be possible 文法

許多科學家相信，總有一天，

to create a kind of map of all the neurons in the brain

我們將能繪製出大腦中所有神經元的圖譜，

and the connections between them.

以及它們彼此之間的連結。

This map would be called a connectome. 用詞

這份圖譜稱為「神經連結體」。

Both the United States and the European Union

美國和歐盟

have launched major research programs with this goal specifically in mind, 片語搭配

都已針對這個目標啟動大型研究計畫，

much like the organizations in Selfless.

很像《Selfless》裡的那些組織。

This task will likely take decades, 文法

這項工作可能得花上數十年，

but once it's done, 文法

但一旦完成，

scientists should be able to build a computer model of the connectome, 文法

科學家應該就能建立神經連結體的電腦模型，

a kind of virtual brain

也就是一種虛擬大腦，

that would be able to send signals between neurons through artificial synapses.

能透過人工突觸在神經元之間傳送訊號。

So,

那麼，

if downloading memories is possible,

如果下載記憶可行，

what about uploading? 表達脈絡

上傳記憶又如何呢？

That, too, is becoming a reality 片語搭配

這也正逐漸成為現實，

thanks to a technique called optogenetics. 講解

多虧一項名為「光遺傳學」的技術。

This involves injecting specific neurons 講解

這種方法需要向特定神經元注入

with DNA from algae

來自藻類的DNA，

that causes them to produce a light-sensitive protein

使這些神經元製造出一種光敏蛋白，

on their cell surface.

並讓它出現在細胞表面。

When light is shone into the brain, 文法

當光線照進大腦時，

it stimulates the protein

它會刺激這種蛋白質，

and activates only those neurons that express it.

而且只會活化表現這種蛋白質的神經元。

In this way, 表達脈絡

透過這種方式，

scientists can artificially activate groups of neurons

科學家可以人為活化成群的神經元，

associated with particular memories. 片語搭配

也就是與特定記憶相關的神經元。

All this may sound pretty scary

這一切聽起來可能很嚇人，

and make you think that a scenario like that found in Selfless 文法

也會讓你覺得，《Selfless》裡的那種情況

can't be far off, 慣用語

已經離我們不遠了，

but there are a few reasons to relax.

不過，我們還是有幾個理由可以放心。

Our brains are unbelievably complex,

我們的大腦複雜得難以置信，

perhaps too complex to copy. 文法

也許複雜到根本無法複製。

The number of synapse connections

大腦中的突觸連結數量

is a thousand times bigger 文法

要多出足足一千倍——

than the number of stars in the Milky Way Galaxy.

與銀河系裡的恆星數量相比。

On top of that, 表達脈絡

除此之外，

your brain is constantly remodeling itself, 用詞

你的大腦還會不斷重塑自己，

creating new connections 文法

建立新的連結，

and letting old ones expire.

並讓舊連結逐漸消失。

It's a reflection of who you are 慣用語

它反映出你是誰，

at this specific moment in time,

就在這個特定的時間點，

and it took your entire lifetime to create. 文法

而它的形成耗費了你一輩子。

A copy of your mind would just be an imitation,

你的心智副本只會是一個仿製品，

and the second it started integrating new thoughts, 文法

而它一開始整合新的想法、

memories, and experiences,

記憶和經驗，

it would become someone else,

就會變成另一個人。

which, in a way, 語氣意圖

從某種角度來說，

helps us appreciate how unique we truly are.

這讓我們更能體會自己有多麼獨一無二。

But with increasingly sophisticated technology, 用詞

不過，隨著科技越來越進步，

who knows what the future may hold? 慣用語

誰知道未來會是什麼模樣呢？

Perhaps a world like Selfless isn't too far away.

或許《Selfless》裡的世界並沒有那麼遙遠。

Be sure to check out Selfless,

記得去看《Selfless》，

which is in theaters July 10th.

本片將於7月10日上映。

We'll be there

我們也會去看，

and are excited to hear what you all think.

而且很期待聽聽大家的想法。