When are you actually an adult? - Shannon Odell

翻译人员: Yip Yan Yeung 校对人员: Grace Man

Most countries recognize 18 as the start of adulthood

大多数国家都将 18 岁 认定为成年期的开始，

by granting various freedoms and privileges.

此时给予各种各样的自由和特权。

But is age the best way to measure maturity?

但是年龄真的是 衡量成熟程度的最佳方式吗？

I was born 12:05 AM on November 6th—

我生于 11 月 6 日的凌晨 0:05，

5 minutes short of being eligible to vote in the election tomorrow.

差五分钟具备 参与明日投票选举的资格。

Meanwhile, your big brother— yours truly—

与此同时， 你那如假包换的哥哥，

was born 15 minutes earlier, so I can vote.

比你只早出生了 15 分钟， 所以我可以参与投票。

It’s arbitrary and unfair!

太随便了！太不公平了！

The voting age should be lowered to 16!

投票年龄应该下调到 16 岁！

I firmly disagree!

我坚决反对！

No way 16-year-olds are mature enough to make decisions with national consequences.

16 岁绝对没有成熟到 有能力做出事关国家大事的决定。

I’m eligible and I don’t even know who’s running.

我有资格投票 但是我都不知道竞选人是谁。

Meanwhile, I know the candidates inside and out.

而我呢， 我对候选人的情况了如指掌。

She's obsessed with politics.

她对政治太上头了。

Exactly! If 16-year-olds aren’t mature enough to vote,

没错！如果 16 岁的人 不够成熟参与投票，

then by that same logic, they shouldn’t be allowed to drive.

那么同样的道理， 他们也不该有开车的资格。

I firmly disagree! I’m an excellent driver!

我坚决反对！ 我开车可厉害了！

And I’ve never gotten a ticket, unlike some people.

我从来没吃过罚单， 不像某些人。

That’s so unfair! That stop sign was hidden by a tree.

太不公平了！ 那个停车标志被树挡住了。

I think you both make valid points.

我觉得你们两个说的都有道理。

And questioning the age limits of adulthood is well warranted.

质疑成年期的年龄限制 非常合理。

Some countries have lowered the voting age to 16,

有些国家已经将投票年龄 下调到了 16 岁，

and cultural coming-of-age ceremonies are often celebrated at different ages.

各种文化中的成人礼 通常也会在不同年龄举行。

As there seems to be no consensus on exactly when we reach maturity,

看来我们也无法就 到底几岁才算成熟达成一致，

perhaps science can give us a clearer answer.

也许科学可以给我们 一个更清晰的答案。

One way neuroscientists have looked to define adulthood

神经科学家定义成年期的依据是

is by when the brain is fully grown.

大脑完全发育成熟的时间。

Brain development involves two trajectories.

大脑发育有两条路径。

First, there's a reduction in gray matter.

第一，大脑灰质的减少。

Gray matter consists of cells and connections

灰质包含细胞和脑连接，

that facilitate communication at short ranges,

在小范围内进行信息传递，

creating dense, information-processing hubs.

产生密集的信息处理中心。

While a reduction may seem like a bad thing,

虽然灰质减少听起来是件坏事，

what’s happening is a selective pruning.

但其实是个优胜劣汰的修剪过程。

Connections that are used are kept and strengthened,

正在使用的脑连接 被保留了下来并增强，

while under-used ones are weeded away,

不太使用的脑连接会被除掉，

creating a brain that is both fine-tuned to its environment and energy efficient.

发育成一个完美适配环境 又合理消耗能量的大脑。

This gray matter reduction coincides with an increase in white matter.

灰质减少的同时， 白质正在增加。

White matter refers to connections that are myelinated,

白质指的是有髓鞘的神经纤维，

coated in a layer of insulation,

由一层保护层包裹，

allowing for fast far-range communication between information hubs.

保证了信息中心之间的 远距离快速交流。

For example, these paths connect regions that signal

比如，这些通路连接了

the pleasure of immediate reward with regions that help us plan ahead,

因即刻奖赏产生愉悦感的区域 和让我们未雨绸缪的区域，

allowing us to make more balanced, forward-thinking decisions.

于是我们就能做出更均衡、 更有前瞻性的决定。

Imaging studies show that white and gray matter volumes

影像研究表明 白质量和灰质量

undergo drastic changes during adolescence,

会在青春期发生剧烈变化，

and continuing through your twenties.

并将持续到 20 多岁。

But the brain’s journey is far from finished,

但是大脑的旅程远远没有结束，

as various experiences continue to reshape its connections

各种经历还会继续 重塑脑连接，

throughout your lifetime.

贯穿你的一生。

So brain structure alone may not give us our answer.

所以，单看脑部的结构 还不能解答我们的问题。

Another way scientists have tried to define adulthood

科学家定义成年期的另一种方法是

is by measuring cognitive development—

衡量认知发育——

when are you able to learn and complete mental tasks

你什么时候能与 更年长的成年人具有相同的效率

at the same efficiency as older adults?

来学习和完成脑力劳动？

By this definition, adulthood may begin as early as 16,

根据这个定义， 成年期可能早在 16 岁就开始了，

as teens perform just as well on tests

因为青少年在一些测试上 也能有杰出表现，

that assess reasoning, problem-solving and critical thinking.

这些测试会考察他们的逻辑、 解决问题的能力和批判性思维。

Though capable of making smart, well-informed decisions,

虽然青少年能够做出 明智、合理的决定，

teens may be more susceptible to external pressures.

但是他们更容易受到 外界压力的影响。

Studies show that when performing risk- taking and self-control related tasks,

研究表明， 处理有风险和需要自控的任务时，

18 to 21 year olds behave much like older adults.

18 至 21 岁人士 和更年长的成年人表现大致相同。

But when these tests include an emotional element—

但是，当这些测试 牵涉到情感因素时，

such as utilizing self-control when identifying fearful faces—

比如在辨别害怕的表情时 克制自己的情绪，

or a social element—

或者社会因素——

such as making a decision in the presence of a friend—

比如在朋友面前做决定——

different patterns emerge.

就会出现不一样的结果。

Under these influences, 18 to 21 year olds tend to behave more like younger teens,

在这些因素的影响下， 18 至 21 岁人士会表现得更像青少年，

and their brains show younger-teen-like patterns of activity.

他们的大脑也会出现 类似青少年的活动模式。

In other words, during your teens and early twenties,

换句话说， 如果你是个青少年或二十出头，

your brain is wired to place more value and attention

你的大脑就注定会更重视、更关注

on social and emotional elements.

社会和情感因素。

This allows emerging adults to better explore their identities

这让未来的成年人 更好地建立对自己的认知，

and connect with others,

建立与他人的联系，

but may also create more vulnerability to negative peer influence

但也让人更容易受到 负面同侪影响和

and rash heat of the moment decisions.

头脑发热做出冲动决定的摆布。

For this reason, many scientists argue that judicial systems

鉴于此，很多科学家 认为司法系统

should expand juvenile courts to include

理应将少年法庭的受案范围

those in their late teens and early twenties,

延伸至青少年后期及二十出头，

as current systems fail to recognize

因为既有系统并没有考虑到

how the emerging adult brain is still changing.

刚成年的成人大脑 仍在发生变化。

So when are you actually an adult?

那到底什么时候才算成年呢？

As you can see, there is no exact age or moment

如你所见，我们无法确定

发育过程中的哪个确切年龄或节点 才算成年。

in development that we can point to.

Instead, neuroscience suggests that there are waves of maturity.

而神经科学表示成熟的过程 是一轮一轮的。

As different brain regions and mental abilities mature at different times,

由于各个脑区和心智 会在不同的年龄成熟，

so do different adult-like states and behaviors.

各种成人的状态和行为 也会按各自的节奏出现。

Not everyone will reach each wave of maturity at the same age.

不是每个人都能在同一年龄 达到同一成熟程度。

Each person’s journey to adulthood is unique,

每个人迈向成年的旅途 都是独特的，

influenced by genetics, environment, and experience.

会受到遗传、环境、经历的影响。