苦读书要不得 揭秘如何备考效果最佳

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.

尽管和目前为止所有的意见相悖，科学家们坚持认为，在准备考试时限时测试比花上几个月苦读书本的效果更好。

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

根据研究，压力下分泌的荷尔蒙会使我们的脑细胞产生变异，促使信息被更高效的记录下来。

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

我们会经常发现令人不愉快的记忆往往会比快乐的回忆陪伴自己更久些。

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.

这是由压力所扮演的角色决定的—从生物学的角度来讲，记住那些带给我们伤害或者威胁的东西无疑是非常必要的。

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.

由加强的压力导致的快速记忆会把信息储藏在脑丘里，这是我们大脑中与记忆和学习直接关联的部分。

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

这种基因的“重新编程”帮助细胞生长并组成更发达的神经网络。

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.

皮质醇和肾上腺素是人体对抗机制的必要组成部分，这种生物神经机能对于危险情势的反应已经进化了数百万年。

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

在发生危险时，荷尔蒙大量出现在血管中，提高了血糖浓度来加速这种应急机制，并提供短暂的爆发力。

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

此种机能曾将帮助远古人逃避或战胜危险。

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.

荷尔蒙作用在大脑活动上还会帮助建立这样的警示性记忆，避免在今后陷入类似的危险境地。