How risk-taking changes a teenager's brain | Kashfia Rahman

翻译人员: Wanna Shi 校对人员: Yu Xie

Have you ever tried to understand a teenager?

你们有没有试过 去了解一个青少年？

It's exhausting, right?

了解的过程 让人身心俱疲，对吧？

你们肯定很疑惑： 有些青少年在学校很乖，

You must be puzzled by the fact that some teens do well in school,

lead clubs and teams

他们在俱乐部或者团队里 承担领导角色，

and volunteer in their communities,

在社区当志愿者，

but they eat Tide Pods for an online challenge,

但是他们也会参加线上挑战， 品尝汰渍洗衣球（Tide Pods），

speed and text while driving,

他们飙车， 一边开车一边发信息，

binge drink and experiment with illicit drugs.

酗酒，尝试吸毒。

怎么会有这么多的青少年 既聪颖、富有责任心，

How can so many teens be so smart, skilled and responsible --

and careless risk-takers at the same time?

同时却又做出如此不计后果的事情？

When I was 16,

在我16岁的时候，

while frequently observing my peers in person

我经常当面观察同龄人，

as well as on social media,

我也会通过社交媒体去观察他们。

I began to wonder why so many teens took such crazy risks.

我开始疑惑： 为什么这么多青少年会疯狂冒险。

It seems like getting a certificate from DARE class in the fifth grade

就像是想获得 五年级“勇士”课堂的证书一样，

can't stop them.

拦都拦不住他们。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

What was even more alarming to me

更让我吃惊的是，

was that the more they exposed themselves to these harmful risks,

他们越将自己暴露在这种风险之中，

the easier it became for them to continue taking risks.

就越容易继续冒险。

Now this confused me,

这令我非常困惑，

but it also made me incredibly curious.

同时也令我万分好奇。

我的名字的字面意思

So, as someone with a name

that literally means "to explore knowledge,"

是“探索知识”。

I started searching for a scientific explanation.

冲着这样一个名字， 我就此开启了我的科学探索。

Now, it's no secret that teens ages 13 to 18

目前，13到18岁的青少年

are more prone to risk-taking than children or adults,

比儿童和成人都更倾向于冒险， 这一点人尽皆知。

but what makes them so daring?

那是什么使他们如此大胆呢？

Do they suddenly become reckless,

他们是突然变得如此不计后果的吗，

or is this just a natural phase that they're going through?

还是说这是他们成长必经的一个阶段？

Well neuroscientists have already found evidence

神经科学家们发现，

that the teen brain is still in the process of maturation --

青少年大脑还在发育、尚未成熟，

and that this makes them exceptionally poor at decision-making,

而这使得青少年 特别不善于做决策，

causing them to fall prey to risky behaviors.

所以他们容易采取危险行为。

But in that case, if the maturing brain is to blame,

这样的话， 那问题就在于发育中的大脑，

then why are teens more vulnerable than children,

那为什么青少年比起儿童 更加容易采取冒险的决定呢？

even though their brains are more developed than those of children?

青少年的大脑可是 比儿童的大脑更成熟啊！

Also, not all teens in the world take risks at the same level.

此外，并非全球青少年的 冒险程度都相同。

Are there some other underlying or unintentional causes

还有其他潜在的或偶然的理由

driving them to risk-taking?

驱使他们去冒险吗？

Well, this is exactly what I decided to research.

这正是我决定去研究的领域。

So, I founded my research on the basis of a psychological process

所以，我将研究建立在 一个心理过程的基础之上，

known as "habituation,"

即“习惯化”，

or simply what we refer to as "getting used to it."

简言之， 就是我们所说的“适应”

Habituation explains how our brains adapt to some behaviors,

习惯化解释了，大脑如何适应

like lying, with repeated exposures.

例如反复接触说谎等这些行为。

And this concept inspired me to design a project

这个概念激发了我设计项目的灵感：

to determine if the same principle

同样的原则

could be applied to the relentless rise of risk-taking in teenagers.

能否用来解释 为何青少年冒险现象不断增多。

So I predicted that habituation to risk-taking

我预期， 冒险行为的习惯化

may have the potential to change the already-vulnerable teenage brain

可能会改变易受环境影响的青年大脑，

by blunting or even eradicating

改变的方法是 削弱与风险相关的负面情绪，

the negative emotions associated with risk,

甚至完全消除这样的情绪，

like fear or guilt.

如恐惧、内疚。

I also thought because they would feel less fearful and guilty,

我还认为， 因为他们觉得没那么恐惧和内疚，

this desensitization would lead them to even more risk-taking.

这种脱敏现象会使他们更容易冒险。

简单来说，我想通过研究

In short, I wanted to conduct a research study

to answer one big question:

来回答一个大问题：

Why do teens keep making outrageous choices

为什么青少年老是做出骇人的

that are harmful to their health and well-being?

且不利于自己的身心的事情？

But there was one big obstacle in my way.

但是我的研究面临着一个很大的障碍，

要研究这个问题，

To investigate this problem,

I needed teenagers to experiment on,

我需要青少年参与试验，

laboratories and devices to measure their brain activity,

需要实验室和设备 来测量他们的大脑活动，

and teachers or professors to supervise me and guide me along the way.

需要老师或教授 来监督我、引导我。

我需要各种资源。

I needed resources.

But, you see, I attended a high school in South Dakota

但是，你们也看到了， 我中学是在南达科他塔州上的，

with limited opportunity for scientific exploration.

科学探索的机会非常有限。

My school had athletics,

我们学校有运动员、

band, choir, debate and other clubs,

乐队、合唱团、辩论队和各种社团，

but there were no STEM programs or research mentors.

但却没有STEM项目或研究导师。

And the notion of high schoolers

此外，高中生做研究

doing research or participating in a science fair was completely foreign.

或参与科学竞赛的想法更是少有。

Simply put, I didn't exactly have the ingredients

简单来说，这让我感到

to make a chef-worthy dish.

巧妇难为无米之炊。

这些障碍真让人沮丧，

And these obstacles were frustrating,

but I was also a stubborn teenager.

但我是一个倔强的青少年。

And as the daughter of Bangladeshi immigrants

作为孟加拉国移民的女儿

and one of just a handful of Muslim students

和在南达科他塔州高中里

in my high school in South Dakota,

为数不多的穆斯林学生之一，

I often struggled to fit in.

我常常需要很努力地 去适应、去融入。

And I wanted to be someone with something to contribute to society,

我想做一个对社会有贡献的人，

not just be deemed the scarf-wearing brown girl

而不只是一个带头巾的 棕色皮肤女孩，

who was an anomaly in my homogenous hometown.

只是家乡来的一个异类。

I hoped that by doing this research,

我希望，通过这个研究，

I could establish this

我能达成上述的那些愿望，

and how valuable scientific exploration could be for kids like me

证明科学探索对于 像我一样的孩子来说是多么珍贵，

who didn't necessarily find their niche elsewhere.

我们在其他地方 未必能找到自己的立足之地。

So with limited research opportunities,

所以，仅凭有限的研究机会，

inventiveness allowed me to overcome seemingly impossible obstacles.

创造力使我克服了 那些看似无法跨越的障碍。

I became more creative in working with a variety of methodologies,

用各种方法、材料工作时， 涉及各种主题时，

materials and subjects.

我变得越来越有创造力。

I transformed my unassuming school library

我把我们普通的学校图书馆

into a laboratory

变成了实验室，

and my peers into lab rats.

把同学们变成了 实验室里的小白鼠。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

My enthusiastic geography teacher,

我那热心的地理老师，

who also happens to be my school's football coach,

正好也是我们学校的足球教练，

ended up as my cheerleader,

他最终成为了我的啦啦队队长，

becoming my mentor to sign necessary paperwork.

成为了我在签署必备文件方面的导师。

And when it became logistically impossible

而当我无法使用

to use a laboratory electroencephalography,

实验室脑电图设备，

or EEG,

简称EEG，

which are those electrode devices used to measure emotional responses,

即无法使用用来测试 情感反应的电极装置时，

I bought a portable EEG headset with my own money,

我用自己省下来 买新款iPhone X的钱

买了一台便携式EEG耳机。

instead of buying the new iPhone X

that a lot of kids my age were saving up for.

我的很多同龄人 都在省钱买iPhone X。

So finally I started the research

最终，我开始了我的研究。

with 86 students, ages 13 to 18, from my high school.

研究对象是我们中学的 86名学生（13~18岁）。

Using the computer cubicles in my school library,

我使用了学校图书馆的电脑隔间

I had them complete a computerized decision-making simulation

让同学们完成了 一项计算机决策模拟试验，

to measure their risk-taking behaviors comparable to ones in the real world,

以此来测试他们的冒险行为， 并与现实世界中的行为进行对比，

like alcohol use, drug use and gambling.

如喝酒、嗑药和赌博。

Wearing the EEG headset,

同学们头戴EEG耳机，

the students completed the test 12 times over three days

在3天时间里 完成了12次测试，

to mimic repeated risk exposures.

模拟重复暴露到风险之中的情况。

A control panel on the EEG headset

EEG耳机上的控制面板

measured their various emotional responses:

测试了他们不同的情感反应：

like attention, interest, excitement, frustration,

专注、感兴趣、兴奋、沮丧、

内疚、压力程度、放松。

guilt, stress levels and relaxation.

They also rated their emotions

他们还用经过验证的 情感测试测量系统

on well-validated emotion-measuring scales.

测试了自己的情感。

This meant that I had measured the process of habituation

这就是说， 我试验了习惯化的过程

and its effects on decision-making.

及其对决策的影响。

And it took 29 days to complete this research.

这项研究历时29天。

And with months of frantically drafting proposals,

接下来的几个月， 我拼命地起草研究报告，

meticulously computing data in a caffeinated daze at 2am,

细心地计算数据， 时常在咖啡因的作用下熬到凌晨2点，

最终，我的研究结果定稿了。

I was able to finalize my results.

And the results showed that habituation to risk-taking

研究结果表明： 事实上，冒险的习惯化

could actually change a teen's brain by altering their emotional levels,

会改变青少年的情感水平， 从而改变他们的大脑，

causing greater risk-taking.

使得他们更冒险。

The students' emotions that were normally associated with risks,

与风险相关的情感一般有

like fear, stress, guilt and nervousness,

恐惧、压力、内疚、紧张，

as well as attention,

还有专注。

第一次接触风险模拟器时， 学生的这些情感处于高水平。

were high when they were first exposed to the risk simulator.

This curbed their temptations and enforced self-control,

这抑制了风险对他们的诱惑， 迫使他们进行自我控制，

which prevented them from taking more risks.

这阻止了他们冒险。

However, the more they were exposed to the risks through the simulator,

但是，通过模拟器， 他们暴露到风险中的次数越多，

the less fearful, guilty and stressed they became.

他们的恐惧、内疚就越少， 承受的压力就越小。

This caused a situation

这就导致了如下情况：

in which they were no longer able to feel

他们变得感受不到

the brain's natural fear and caution instincts.

大脑自然的本能恐惧和警惕了。

And also, because they are teenagers and their brains are still underdeveloped,

此外，因为他们是青少年， 他们的大脑还处于发育阶段，

they became more interested and excited in thrill-seeking behaviors.

他们对冒险行为 会越来越感兴趣、越来越兴奋。

So what were the consequences?

那会有什么样的后果呢？

They lacked self-control for logical decision-making,

他们在逻辑决策时 缺少自我控制，

took greater risks

会去冒更大的险，

and made more harmful choices.

做出危害更大的选择。

So the developing brain alone isn't to blame.

但也不能把全部问题归咎于 尚未完全发育的大脑。

The process of habituation also plays a key role in risk-taking

习惯化的过程也导致青少年

and risk escalation.

去冒险以及冒险行为的升级。

Although a teen's willingness to seek risk

尽管青年冒险的意愿

is largely a result of the structural and functional changes

在很大程度上 是结构和功能转变的结果。

associated with their developing brains,

这与发育中的大脑相关，

the dangerous part that my research was able to highlight

但是我的研究突出了 其中的危险部分：

was that a habituation to risks

实际上，冒险习惯化

can actually physically change a teen's brain

会在物理层面改变一个青少年的大脑，

and cause greater risk-taking.

致使他们去冒更大的险。

So it's the combination of the immature teen brain

所以尚未完全发育的大脑

and the impact of habituation

和习惯化的影响共同作用，

that is like a perfect storm to create more damaging effects.

这就像一场完美风暴， 会导致更具有破坏性的后果。

And this research can help parents and the general public

这项研究能帮助父母及大众

understand that teens aren't just willfully ignoring warnings

了解青少年不是简单地 故意忽视警告，

or simply defying parents by engaging in increasingly more dangerous behavior.

或是简单地冒越来越大的险， 以此反抗父母。

The biggest hurdle they're facing is their habituation to risks:

他们面临的最大的障碍是 他们对风险的习惯化：

all the physical, detectable and emotional functional changes

所有实实在在的、 能检测到的情感、功能变化，

that drive and control and influence their over-the-top risk-taking.

这些变化驱使、控制、影响 他们的过度冒险行为。

So yes, we need policies that provide safer environments

所以，我们需要相关政策 为我们提供更加安全的环境，

and limit exposures to high risks,

避免我们接触高风险；

but we also need policies that reflect this insight.

我们还需要相关政策 来好好考虑这一结论。

研究结果也为青少年敲响了警钟。

These results are a wake-up call for teens, too.

It shows them that the natural and necessary fear and guilt

研究结果表明， 天生的、必要的恐惧和内疚

that protect them from unsafe situations

能够保护他们， 避免他们陷入危险境地，

actually become numb when they repeatedly choose risky behaviors.

但是，当他们反复选择危险行为时， 这种恐惧和内疚会变得麻木。

So with this hope to share my findings with fellow teenagers and scientists,

我想与同龄青少年和科学家 分享我的研究发现，

I took my research

我把我的研究带到了

to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, or ISEF,

英特尔国际科学与工程大奖赛（ISEF）上，

a culmination of over 1,800 students

1800多名来自75个

国家和地区的学生

from 75 countries, regions and territories,

who showcase their cutting-edge research and inventions.

在此展示了他们 领先的研究与发明。

It's like the Olympics of science fair.

ISEF就像科学竞赛中的 “奥林匹克”一样。

(Laughter)

（笑声）

There, I was able to present my research to experts in neuroscience and psychology

在展会上，我得以向神经科学 和心理学专家展示我的研究，

and garner valuable feedback.

并收获了宝贵的反馈。

But perhaps the most memorable moment of the week

但是，或许这一周里 最让人难以忘怀的时刻是

was when the booming speakers suddenly uttered my name

嗓音低沉洪亮的演讲人 在颁奖典礼上

during the awards ceremony.

突然说出我的名字的那一刻。

I was in such disbelief that I questioned myself:

我不敢相信， 我问自己：

Was this just another "La La Land" blunder

这是另一个类似奥斯卡颁奖典礼上

like at the Oscars?

《爱乐之城》那样的颁奖乌龙吗？

(Laughter)

（笑声）

Luckily, it wasn't.

幸运的是，并非如此。

I really had won first place

我真的获得了

in the category "Behavioral and Social Sciences."

“行为与社会科学”组的第一名。

(Applause)

（掌声）

毋庸置疑，

Needless to say,

I was not only thrilled to have this recognition,

我激动不仅仅是 因为我获得了这样的认可，

but also the whole experience of science fair that validated my efforts

还因为参与科学竞赛的整个过程 证明了我的付出会有回报，

keeps my curiosity alive

让我继续保持旺盛的好奇心，

and strengthens my creativity,

加强了我的创造力、

perseverance and imagination.

毅力和想象力。

This still image of me experimenting in my school library

我这张在学校图书馆的照片

may seem ordinary,

或许看起来很普通，

but to me, it represents a sort of inspiration.

但是对我而言， 它是一种激励。

It reminds me that this process taught me to take risks.

它提醒着我， 这个过程教我去冒险。

And I know that might sound incredibly ironic.

我知道，这听起来 或许特别讽刺。

But I took risks realizing

冒险让我发现

that unforeseen opportunities often come from risk-taking --

意外机会往往来自于冒险——

not the hazardous, negative type that I studied,

不是我研究的 那种危险的、负面的冒险，

but the good ones,

而是好的冒险、

the positive risks.

正面的冒险。

The more risks I took,

我冒的险越多，

我越觉得我能承受不一样的情境，

the more capable I felt of withstanding my unconventional circumstances,

leading to more tolerance, resilience and patience

让我更有包容心、复原力和耐心，

for completing my project.

得以完成我的项目。

And these lessons have led me to new ideas

而这些经验也让我有了新想法，

like: Is the opposite of negative risk-taking also true?

例如：负面冒险的对立面也成立吗？

Can positive risk-taking escalate with repeated exposures?

通过反复接触， 正面冒险是否会升级？

Does positive action build positive brain functioning?

正面行动会改善大脑功能吗？

I think I just might have my next research idea.

我想我找到了 我的下一个研究目标。

(Applause)

（掌声）