The human brain did not evolve for life in a delayed-return environment.The earliest remains of modern humans, known as Homo sapiens sapiens, are approximately two hundred thousand years old.These were the first humans to have a brain relatively similar to ours.In particular, the neocortex—the newest part of the brain and the region responsible for higher functions like language—was roughly the same size two hundred thousand years ago as today.You are walking around with the same hardware as your Paleolithic ancestors.It is only recently—during the last five hundred years or so—that society has shifted to a predominantly delayed-return environment.Compared to the age of the brain, modern society is brand-new.In the last one hundred years, we have seen the rise of the car, the airplane, the television, the personal computer, the internet, the smartphone, and Beyoncé.The world has changed much in recent years, but human nature has changed little.Similar to other animals on the African savannah, our ancestors spent their days responding to grave threats, securing the next meal, and taking shelter from a storm.It made sense to place a high value on instant gratification.The distant future was less of a concern.And after thousands of generations in an immediate-return environment, our brains evolved to prefer quick payoffs to long-term ones.
人类大脑并不是为了在延迟回报环境中生活而进化的。已知最早的现代人类遗骸,也就是 Homo sapiens sapiens,大约有二十万年的历史。他们是第一批拥有与我们相对相似大脑的人类。尤其是新皮层,也就是大脑中最新的部分、负责语言等高级功能的区域,在二十万年前的大小与今天大致相同。你现在带着的,是和旧石器时代祖先相同的“大脑硬件”。只是到了最近,大约过去五百年左右,社会才转向一种主要由延迟回报构成的环境。与大脑的年龄相比,现代社会是全新的。在过去一百年里,我们见证了汽车、飞机、电视、个人电脑、互联网、智能手机以及 Beyoncé 的兴起。近年来,世界变化很大,但人性变化很小。和非洲草原上的其他动物一样,我们的祖先每天都在应对严重威胁、获取下一顿食物,并在暴风雨中寻找庇护。高度重视即时满足是合理的。遥远的未来并不是那么值得担心。而在即时回报环境中经历了成千上万代之后,我们的大脑进化成更偏好快速回报,而不是长期回报。
The human brain did not evolve for life in a delayed-return environment.
人类大脑并不是为了在延迟回报环境中生活而进化的。
evolve/ɪˈvɑːlv/
进化;发展
Ex: Good study habits evolve through small daily choices.
In particular, the neocortex—the newest part of the brain and the region responsible for higher functions like language—was roughly the same size two hundred thousand years ago as today.
尤其是新皮层,也就是大脑中最新的部分、负责语言等高级功能的区域,在二十万年前的大小与今天大致相同。
in particular/ɪn pərˈtɪkjələr/
尤其;特别是
Ex: I like fruit, in particular apples and oranges.
例句翻译:我喜欢水果,尤其是苹果和橙子。 分析:in particular 用来强调具体对象。
neocortex/ˌniːoʊˈkɔːrteks/
新皮层
Ex: The neocortex is linked to language and complex thought.
Ex: College is a delayed-return environment because rewards come later.
例句翻译:大学是一种延迟回报环境,因为回报会在以后到来。 分析:指行动后很久才看到结果的环境。
Compared to the age of the brain, modern society is brand-new.
与大脑的年龄相比,现代社会是全新的。
brand-new/ˌbrænd ˈnuː/
全新的
Ex: She bought a brand-new notebook for the course.
例句翻译:她为这门课买了一本全新的笔记本。 分析:brand-new 表示非常新。
In the last one hundred years, we have seen the rise of the car, the airplane, the television, the personal computer, the internet, the smartphone, and Beyoncé.
例句翻译:远程办公的兴起改变了办公室生活。 分析:the rise of 指某事物开始流行或变得重要。
The world has changed much in recent years, but human nature has changed little.
近年来,世界变化很大,但人性变化很小。
human nature/ˈhjuːmən ˈneɪtʃər/
人性
Ex: Curiosity is part of human nature.
例句翻译:好奇心是人性的一部分。 分析:human nature 指人类共有的倾向和特质。
Similar to other animals on the African savannah, our ancestors spent their days responding to grave threats, securing the next meal, and taking shelter from a storm.
和非洲草原上的其他动物一样,我们的祖先每天都在应对严重威胁、获取下一顿食物,并在暴风雨中寻找庇护。
African savannah/ˈæfrɪkən səˈvænə/
非洲草原
Ex: Lions hunt across the African savannah.
例句翻译:狮子在非洲草原上捕猎。 分析:savannah 指热带或亚热带草原。
ancestors/ˈænsestərz/
祖先
Ex: Our ancestors learned to use fire for warmth.
例句翻译:我们的祖先学会用火取暖。 分析:ancestors 指家族或人类过去的先辈。
grave threats/ɡreɪv θrets/
严重威胁
Ex: Flooding posed grave threats to the village.
例句翻译:洪水对村庄构成了严重威胁。 分析:grave 表示严重的,threats 表示威胁。
securing/sɪˈkjʊrɪŋ/
获得;确保
Ex: Securing enough sleep is important before an exam.
例句翻译:考试前确保充足睡眠很重要。 分析:securing 表示确保得到某物。
taking shelter/ˈteɪkɪŋ ˈʃeltər/
避难;躲避
Ex: People were taking shelter from the heavy rain.
例句翻译:人们正在躲避大雨。 分析:taking shelter 指寻找保护自己的地方。
It made sense to place a high value on instant gratification.
高度重视即时满足是合理的。
made sense/meɪd sens/
有道理;合理
Ex: It made sense to leave early before the storm.
例句翻译:暴风雨前早点离开是合理的。 分析:made sense 表示某个选择在情境中合理。
instant gratification/ˈɪnstənt ˌɡrætɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/
即时满足
Ex: Social media often offers instant gratification.