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Technology and Neuroscience 科技與神經科學 撰文及考題設計 British Council 英協教育中心 Brian Welter 中譯 陳怡君 （中央社編譯） 圖 美聯社
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Have you ever looked at a beautif ul wood
Atlanta’s Emory University notes.
carving of a bunch of grapes or of a small animal
這個過程對研究大腦的神經科學來說是個謎。
and wondered how someone could create it? Or
這個研究涵蓋了從稱作「神經元」的神經細胞，以
wondered what steps were involved, from selecting
至錯綜複雜的神經網絡，最終組成大腦的不同區
the wood to envisioning the f inal product to
域。理解這些極具挑戰性，因為特定大腦區域或
planning the process one step at a time?
神經叢與特定行為、想法和感受之間的一對一關
您可曾驚奇地凝視刻成一串串葡萄或是小動
係並不存在。相反地，亞特蘭大的艾莫瑞大學史陶
物的木雕，然後好奇這是如何創造出來的？或是
特教授指出，許多單一大腦構造是「多能」的，意
從 選擇 木 材到構思成品的過程，究竟 需要多少
思是他們可以執行不同種類的工作。
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步驟？
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different kinds of jobs, professor Dietrich Stout of
Not surprisingly, neuroscience has a difficult
This process is a mystery to neuroscience, which
time trying to understand how we think and learn
is the study of the brain. This research encompasses
about technology. This is particularly difficult when
individual brain cells, called neurons, as well as
the use of a tool is considered. A tool places limits
clusters of neural networks and then, finally, the
on human actions. A wood carving knife can be
various sections of the brain that these clusters
gripped and used in only specific ways. The body
combine to make. Comprehending this all poses a
and brain must adapt to that reality if the knife is to
difficult challenge because a one-to-one relationship
be used in a productive manner. Some basic brain
between a specific brain part or neural cluster
research on macaques, a species of monkey, has
with a specific action, thought, or feeling does not
shown that they use a tool as an extension of their
exist. Conversely, many single brain structures are
body. Other research indicates the same for humans.
“pluripotent,” which means that they can do many
不意外地，神經科學為了研究我們如何思考與
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學習科技而傷透腦筋，當考慮到使用工具時更形
first place, the pre-use objectives, and, finally, the
困難。工具侷限了人類的動作，一把木雕刀只能以
motivations for a specific project. Added to this, the
特定方式被抓握與使用。身體與大腦必須遷就於
individual perceives whether he is properly using
「使雕刻刀發揮作用」的現實上。許多關於獼猴的
the tool or not and integrates feedback from other
基礎研究指出，牠們已懂得使用工具當作身體部
people both at various points in the process and at
位的延伸；其他研究在人類身上亦有相同的發現。
the end.
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在人類使用工具與科技的神經科學研究中，研
The neuroscience of how humans use tools
究人員指出了更複雜的議題。神經科學不僅止於
and technology raises many complex issues for
理解工具或科技的正確使用方式，還要「學習」使
researchers. Not only must the neuroscience of the
用的步驟，使用之目的，最後是具體動機。此外，
actual use of the tool or technology be understood,
個體必須了解是否正確使用該工具，並在過程到
but also the steps to learning to use the tool in the
結束的各階段整合其他個體的反饋。
您可曾好奇木雕是如何創造出來的？或是從選擇木材到構思成品的過程，究竟需要多少步驟？
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家，倒是針對模仿學習提出更好的觀點。人類學
This indicates a social component to
家能提出很好的解釋，兩位藝術家能經歷不同的
neuroscience. When learning how to use a tool
時間，無盡分秒形成的差異、包括了木材、工具以
or new technology, we often imitate what others
及匠師等，卻能殊途同歸，創造幾近相同的成品？
do. The teaching of how to do a wood carving
藝術家、陶藝家、鑄劍師等等，皆可以創造出在我
requires social interaction. Yet how does one
們眼中近乎相同的成品。
learn to imitate a master? No two pieces of wood
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are exactly the same: One is denser and therefore
The two key concepts in the human use of tools,
requires more pressure. Another is older and more
according to Stout, are complexity and organisa-
brittle, and therefore could break more easily. The
tion. The professor likens something extremely
master’s carving tool is not exactly the same as the
complex but totally lacking organisation to pixels
apprentice’s. The two individuals do not have the
on a screen randomly lighting up. On the other
exact same strength.
hand, maximal organisation without any complexity
這印證了神經科學的社會面向。當學習如何使
would be the screen where every pixel has the same
用工具或新科技時，我們通常去模仿他人。指導如
unchanging color. Both, he observes, are boring and
何去雕刻一座木雕需要社會互動，但我們如何去模
meaningless.
仿一位「大師」？沒有兩塊木料是完全一樣的，一
史陶特教授指出人類使用工具的兩大關鍵：複
塊也許比較厚實而需要更多氣力；另一塊也許比較
雜性與組織性。教授將其比喻為一面螢幕：極複
老而脆，因此可能較易擊碎。大師的工具也許和學
雜而毫無組織可言的情形就像是隨機閃爍的像素
徒的並非完全一樣。兩人並不擁有一樣的力氣。
般；另一個極端則是極大化的組織性而毫無複雜
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Understanding how we lear n by imitating
性可言，就像一面擁有完全相同顏色的像素構成 的螢幕。他觀察到，兩者皆無趣而無意義。
seems beyond the capacity of neuroscientists at the moment. Anthropologists – researchers who
It is the combination of complexity and organi-
study human behavior – may provide better insights
zation that make things interesting and that enable
into imitative learning. One thing anthropologists
innovation to occur, such as when new relationships
explain well is how two artists making the same
or connections are made. Higher level complex
carving are able to arrive at nearly identical end
organisations are still a mystery for neurosci-
products even though the way to get there varies
ence, including the conundrum of how two carvers
each time, given countless minute differences in
with different blocks of wood, tools, and cutting
wood, tools, and carvers. Artists, ceramics-makers,
movements can end up with apparently identical
sword-makers, you name it, can all arrive at what
items.
appear to most of us to be identical products.
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複雜度與組織的結合，讓事物變得有趣而使創
理解我們如何透過模仿而學習，似乎並非目前
新成為可能，讓新的連結與關係產生。更高度的複
神經科學家所能掌握的。研究人類行為的人類學
雜性與組織性對於神經科學而言仍是個謎：就像
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是兩位雕刻家能透過不同的木材、刀工與工具雕
one thing: In the years ahead they will be busy
塑出相同成品的難題一般。
trying to figure all this out.
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至少有件事神經科學家會感到高興：未來幾年
But at least neuroscientists can be happy about
雅思考試模擬試題 IELTS questions
1. Individual brain parts are assigned particular roles. 2. Anthropologists cannot understand or express the steps to creating artistic products. 3. Two artists producing the same item follow exactly the same process. 4. Ceramics-making involves a more complex process than sword-making. 5. Hierarchy plays a role in a complex process.
Multiple choice: Choose the best answer: 6. Understanding how the brain works is challenging because ... a) there are too many neural clusters to analyse b) some sections of the brain carry out more than one function c) tools and technology are not yet developed for analysis of the brain 7. When neuroscientists study how we use tools and technology, they need to consider ... a) why the pieces of wood are so different b) how pluripotent tools alter brain structures
c) what others may say about how the person uses the tool 8. Anthropologists can better capture how humans use tools to produce things because ... a) ceramics-makers and sword-makers can make identical-looking products b) they comprehend neurons better c) they help us understand how seeminglyidentical items can be made from dissimilar materials 9. Complexity and organisation ... a) need to combine in some way in order to stimulate creativity b) are best understood apart from each other c) are studied via computer screen pixels 10. Neuroscience may better understand the process of creativity ... a) by simplifying the creative process b) by imagining how some steps are more important than others c) by understanding how anthropologists come up with new tools and technology
Answers: 1.False 2.False 3.False 4.NG 5.True
True, False, or Not given
6.b 7.c 8.c 9.a 10.b
雅思考試粉絲團： www.facebook.com/ielts.testcentre
內他們將會埋首試圖理解其中奧祕。
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