What’s the smartest age? - Shannon Odell

譯者: Lilian Chiu 審譯者: Helen Chang

What is the smartest age?

最聰明的年齡是幾歲？

Perhaps a day of friendly competition will lead us to the answer.

也許一個友好競賽日 能帶我們找到答案。

Tomorrow’s the annual Brain Clash—

明天是一年一度的《腦力碰撞》——

ten teams of two competing in a decathlon of mental challenges,

十支隊伍，每隊兩人， 要參與十項智力挑戰賽、

trivia competitions, and puzzles.

知識競賽，以及猜謎賽。

I’ve been training all year.

我已經訓練了一整年。

I’ll need to pick the smartest, most capable teammate.

我得找到最聰明、最有能力的隊友。

I’ve narrowed down the roster.

我得把人選名單縮減。

First we have Gabriela.

首先，有蓋布里艾拉。

She may only be 8, but don’t underestimate her!

雖然她只有八歲，但別低估她！

She’s fluent in two languages and is the ultimate outside-the-box thinker.

她精通兩種語言， 且是終極的打破常規思考者。

Then there’s Ama.

還有阿瑪。

She can recite 100 digits of pi, designs satellites for a living,

她能背出圓周率到小數點後 一百位數，職業是設計衛星，

and bakes a perfect soufflé.

還能做出完美的蛋奶酥。

Or I could go with Mr. Taylor.

或者我可以選泰勒先生。

He’s the best chess player in the neighborhood,

他是這一帶最棒的棋手，

not to mention he’s competed in over 20 Brain Clashes

此外，他還參加過超過 二十次《腦力碰撞》，

and is a five-time champion!

還拿過五次冠軍。

I’m not sure who to pick! Who’s the smartest?

我不知道選誰是好！誰是最聰明的？

Which of these teammates should Amir choose for tomorrow's contest and why?

阿米爾應該要選上述哪一位 當明天比賽的隊友？為什麼？

Of course, it depends.

當然，要看情況。

While intelligence is often associated with things like IQ tests,

雖然智力通常會 和智商測驗拉上關係，

these assessments fail to capture the scope and depth

這類測驗通常無法測出 受測者各項能力的範疇和深度，

of a person’s varied abilities.

So instead, we’ll break down the idea of “smart” into categories

所以，我們改把「聰明」 這個概念拆成數個類別，

like creativity, memory, and learning

比如創意、記憶，以及學習，

and explore when the brain’s best at each of them.

再來探討大腦何時 在這幾類有最好的表現。

Let's start at the very beginning.

咱們從頭開始。

In the first few years of life,

在人生的前幾年，

your brain undergoes incredible rapid growth, called synaptogenesis,

你的大腦成長速度非常快， 這種成長叫做突觸形成，

where more than 1 million new neural connections are formed every second.

每秒鐘會有超過一百萬個 新神經連結形成。

As the brain develops, it goes through a pruning process.

隨著大腦發展， 會經過一個修剪過程。

Based on your experience and environment,

根據你的經歷和環境，

used connections are strengthened and unused connections are removed.

有用的連結會被強化，

沒用的連結會被除去。

Frequently used neuronal pathways are myelinated,

常用的神經通路會有髓鞘，

wrapped in a layer of insulation, allowing information to travel faster.

包覆在一層絕緣體中，

讓資訊傳遞的速度能更快。

This creates a more efficient, fine-tuned brain.

這就會創造出更有效率、 更精密的大腦。

But this brain remodeling happens within and between brain regions

但這種大腦重新建模會在不同時期 發生在大腦區域中間，

at different times,

allowing different skills to flourish at different ages.

讓不同的技能在不同年齡發揮出來。

For example, in childhood, brain regions involved in language learning

比如，在童年，

大腦中和語言學習 相關的區域會快速發展，

develop quickly,

which is why many children can learn and master multiple languages.

這就是為什麼許多孩子可以 學習和精通多種語言。

Yet the prefrontal cortex,

但，大腦中負責認知控制 和抑制的前額葉皮質區

a brain region responsible for cognitive control and inhibition,

is slower to develop.

發展就比較慢。

As a result, some young children may struggle with strategic games,

因此，有些小孩在策略遊戲 如下棋時就會面臨困難，

such as chess or checkers,

which require constant concentration, planning, and abstract thought.

這類遊戲需要能夠持續專注、 做規劃，和抽象思考。

At the same time, children tend to be more flexible, exploration-based learners.

同時，孩童通常是較有彈性、 以探索為基礎的學習者。

They often use more creative approaches when finding solutions to riddles

他們通常會用比較 有創意的方式來解決謎題，

and are, on average, less afraid to make mistakes.

且，一般來說，比較不怕犯錯。

But adults have their own unique set of abilities.

但成人有不同的技能組。

Adults benefit from a well-developed prefrontal cortex,

成人的優勢在於前額葉皮質 已經發展得很好，

allowing them to better execute skills that require learning, focus, and memory,

讓他們能把需要學習、專心， 和記憶的技能運用得更好，

making them quick and efficient puzzle solvers or crossword masters.

他們會是快速、有效的謎題 破解者或填字遊戲大師。

Late in adulthood, these same skills may decline

在成人期的後段， 這些技能可能會變差，

as the brain’s memory center, known as the hippocampus, shrinks.

因為大腦的記憶中心海馬迴會萎縮。

But there’s a reason for the phrase “older and wiser.”

但「老而益精」這句話 背後是有道理的。

After a lifetime of learning,

經過了一輩子的學習，

older adults have more knowledge to recall and utilize,

較年長的成人有更多知識 可以回想及運用，

making them excellent trivia partners.

因此他們會是很出色的 知識競賽夥伴。

Other factors that Amir should consider are his own strengths.

阿米爾應該要考量的因素 還有他自己的長處。

As an adolescent, the prefrontal cortical regions of your brain are more developed

青少年的前額葉皮質區 發展得比童年更成熟。

than in childhood.

This allows you to better navigate logic and math puzzles.

這會讓你更擅長處理 邏輯和數學題目。

Simultaneously, deep inside the brain,

同時，大腦深處，

regions that are important in motivation and reward are developing even faster,

和動機及獎勵息息相關的 區域發展得更快速，

driving teenagers like Amir to be curious and adventurous learners.

讓像阿米爾這樣的青少年變成 好奇且愛冒險的學習者。

In many ways, you can think of the teenager as a jack-of-all-trades,

在許多方面，可把青少年 視為博而不精的人，

with brains wired to seek out new experiences and learn quickly.

他們的大腦本質就會讓他們 去尋找新體驗和快速學習。

You’re at a dynamic stage,

你處在活力滿滿的階段，

where the choices you make and the skills you focus on

此時，你所做的選擇和你著重的技能

can actually guide the development of your brain.

真的能夠引導你大腦的發展方向。

So, what’s the smartest age?

所以，最聰明的年齡是幾歲？

There’s no single answer.

沒有單一個答案。

It’s 8, 16, 25, 65, and everything in between;

是八歲、十六歲、二十五歲、 六十五歲，及之間的任何歲數。

our brains have adapted to prioritize different skills at various ages

我們的大腦已經演化成 在不同的年齡重視不同的技能，

to meet that stage of life’s challenges and demands.

讓我們能面對那個階段的 人生挑戰和需求。

So no matter who Amir picks, having an age-diverse team is a good strategy.

所以，不論阿米爾選誰，組成 年齡多樣化的團隊都是好策略。