苦讀書要不得 揭祕如何備考效果最佳

It runs counter to all the received wisdom about revision. But scientists say last-minute cramming could actually be better than spending months swotting up for exams.

儘管和目前爲止所有的意見相悖，科學家們堅持認爲，在準備考試時限時測試比花上幾個月苦讀書本的效果更好。

According to research, hormones produced under stress cause changes to our brain cells that can help memories to be stored more efficiently.

根據研究，壓力下分泌的荷爾蒙會使我們的腦細胞產生變異，促使信息被更高效的記錄下來。

We often find that unpleasant memories are the ones that stay with us for the rest of our lives more than pleasant memories.

我們會經常發現令人不愉快的記憶往往會比快樂的回憶陪伴自己更久些。

This is because of the role that stress plays – it is clearly important from a biological point of view to remember something that hurt or threatened us.

這是由壓力所扮演的角色決定的—從生物學的角度來講，記住那些帶給我們傷害或者威脅的東西無疑是非常必要的。

This enhanced learning caused by increased levels of stress consolidates the formation of memories in the hippocampus - the part of our brains directly involved with memory and learning.

由加強的壓力導致的快速記憶會把信息儲藏在腦丘裏，這是我們大腦中與記憶和學習直接關聯的部分。

This reprogramming of the genes in the brain helps nerve cells to grow and develop larger networks.

這種基因的“重新編程”幫助細胞生長並組成更發達的神經網絡。

Cortisol and adrenaline are essential components of humans' 'fight or flight' mechanism - the neuro-biological response to stressful situations that has evolved through millions of years.

皮質醇和腎上腺素是人體對抗機制的必要組成部分，這種生物神經機能對於危險情勢的反應已經進化了數百萬年。

At moments of stress these hormones flood the bloodstream, raising blood-sugar levels to speed up the metabolism and provide a burst of energy.

在發生危險時，荷爾蒙大量出現在血管中，提高了血糖濃度來加速這種應急機制，並提供短暫的爆發力。

This mechanism would have helped ancient man to escape from or prevail in dangerous situations.

此種機能曾將幫助遠古人逃避或戰勝危險。

The action of these hormones on brain activity would have also helped to forge strong memories warning them to avoid similar situations in the future.

荷爾蒙作用在大腦活動上還會幫助建立這樣的警示性記憶，避免在今後陷入類似的危險境地。