一、

　　In a purely biological sense, fear begins with the bodys system for reacting to things that can harm us -- the so-called fight-or-flight response.

　　從純生物角度來說，恐懼始于人體系統對會傷害我們的事情的反應----即所謂的戰斗或逃脫反應。

　　An animal that cant detect danger cant stay alive, says Joseph LeDoux. Like animals, humans evolved with an elaborate mechanism for about potential threats.

　　不能覺察到危險的動物無法生存Jeseph LeDoux。像動物一樣，人類進化過程中形成了一個精巧的機制，以處理潛在威脅的信息。

　　At its core is a cluster of neurons deep in the brain known as the amygdala .

　　該機制的核心是大腦內部的一束被稱為扁桃核的神經元。

　　LeDoux studies the way animals and humans respond to threats to understand how we form memories of significant events in our lives.

　　Ledoux研究了動物和人類對危險的反應方式，以理解我們對于生活中重要事件是如何形成記憶的。

　　The amygdala receives input from many parts of the brain, including regions responsible for retrieving memories.

　　扁桃核從大腦的很多部位中接受輸入的信息，包括負責回收記憶的部位。

　　Using this information, the amygdala appraises a situation - I think this charging dog wants to bite me - and triggers a response by radiating nerve signals throughout the body.

　　使用該信息，扁桃核對情景進行分析---我覺得這只充滿攻擊性的狗想咬我---進而通過體內神經信號的輻射啟動效應。

　　These signals produce the familiar signs of distress: trembling, perspiration and fast-moving feet, just to name three.

　　這些信號產生與危險相似的信號：顫抖、流汗和快步逃跑，這僅是其中的三種反應。

　　This fear mechanism is critical to the survival of all animals, but no one can say for sure whether beasts other than humans know theyre afraid.

　　恐懼機制對所有動物的生存都是至關重要的，但是沒有人敢肯定地說除了人以外，動物是否感受到了恐懼。

　　That is, as LeDoux says, if you put that system into a brain that has consciousness, then you get the feeling of fear.

　　正如Ledoux所言：如果你把該機制放進一個有知覺的大腦中，你就會有恐懼的感覺

　　Humans, says Edward M. Hallowell, have the ability to call up images of bad things that happened in the past and to anticipate future events.

　　Edward M.Hallowell說人類擁有回憶過去發生的不好事情的圖像和預測未來的能力。

　　Combine these higher thought processes with our hardwired danger-detection systems, and you get a near-universal human phenomenon: worry.

　　把這些高級思維過程與我們固有的危險探測系統結合在一起，你將會獲得一個幾乎是人類所共有的現象：擔憂。

　　Thats not necessarily a bad thing, says Hallowell, When used properly, worry is an incredible device, he says.

　　Hallowell說，這未必是件壞事。如果使用恰當，擔憂式中難以置信的設計他說。

　　After all, a little healthy worrying is okay if it leads to constructive action -- like having a doctor look at that weird spot on your back.

　　畢竟，稍許健康的擔憂是未嘗不可的，如果擔憂可以帶來建設性的行為----如讓醫生檢查一下你背上奇怪的斑點。

　　Hallowell insists, though, that theres a right way to worry.

　　但是Hallowell堅持認為，擔憂存在著一種正確的模式。

　　Never do it alone, get the facts and then make a plan, he says.

　　永遠不要只是擔憂，要獲取事實，然后指定計劃他說。

　　Most of us have survived a recession, so were familiar with the belt-tightening strategies needed to survive a slump.

　　我們中的大多數都有從衰退中熬過來的精力，所以我們都熟知度過低潮所需要的節約政策。

　　Unfortunately, few of us have much experience dealing with the threat of terrorism, so its been difficult to get facts about how we should respond.

　　不幸的是，我們中僅有少數人有處理恐怖主義危險的經驗，所以要獲取我們應該如何應對的信息變得十分困難。

　　Thats why Hallowell believes it was okay for people to indulge some extreme worries last fall by asking doctors for Cipro and buying gas masks.

　　這就是為什么Hallowell認為在去年秋天的時候，人們向醫生獲取抗炭疽菌的藥物和購買防毒面具并由此深陷于某種極度擔憂中的行為是可以理解的。

　　一、

　　In a purely biological sense, fear begins with the bodys system for reacting to things that can harm us -- the so-called fight-or-flight response.

　　從純生物角度來說，恐懼始于人體系統對會傷害我們的事情的反應----即所謂的戰斗或逃脫反應。

　　An animal that cant detect danger cant stay alive, says Joseph LeDoux. Like animals, humans evolved with an elaborate mechanism for about potential threats.

　　不能覺察到危險的動物無法生存Jeseph LeDoux。像動物一樣，人類進化過程中形成了一個精巧的機制，以處理潛在威脅的信息。

　　At its core is a cluster of neurons deep in the brain known as the amygdala .

　　該機制的核心是大腦內部的一束被稱為扁桃核的神經元。

　　LeDoux studies the way animals and humans respond to threats to understand how we form memories of significant events in our lives.

　　Ledoux研究了動物和人類對危險的反應方式，以理解我們對于生活中重要事件是如何形成記憶的。

　　The amygdala receives input from many parts of the brain, including regions responsible for retrieving memories.

　　扁桃核從大腦的很多部位中接受輸入的信息，包括負責回收記憶的部位。

　　Using this information, the amygdala appraises a situation - I think this charging dog wants to bite me - and triggers a response by radiating nerve signals throughout the body.

　　使用該信息，扁桃核對情景進行分析---我覺得這只充滿攻擊性的狗想咬我---進而通過體內神經信號的輻射啟動效應。

　　These signals produce the familiar signs of distress: trembling, perspiration and fast-moving feet, just to name three.

　　這些信號產生與危險相似的信號：顫抖、流汗和快步逃跑，這僅是其中的三種反應。

　　This fear mechanism is critical to the survival of all animals, but no one can say for sure whether beasts other than humans know theyre afraid.

　　恐懼機制對所有動物的生存都是至關重要的，但是沒有人敢肯定地說除了人以外，動物是否感受到了恐懼。

　　That is, as LeDoux says, if you put that system into a brain that has consciousness, then you get the feeling of fear.

　　正如Ledoux所言：如果你把該機制放進一個有知覺的大腦中，你就會有恐懼的感覺

　　Humans, says Edward M. Hallowell, have the ability to call up images of bad things that happened in the past and to anticipate future events.

　　Edward M.Hallowell說人類擁有回憶過去發生的不好事情的圖像和預測未來的能力。

　　Combine these higher thought processes with our hardwired danger-detection systems, and you get a near-universal human phenomenon: worry.

　　把這些高級思維過程與我們固有的危險探測系統結合在一起，你將會獲得一個幾乎是人類所共有的現象：擔憂。

　　Thats not necessarily a bad thing, says Hallowell, When used properly, worry is an incredible device, he says.

　　Hallowell說，這未必是件壞事。如果使用恰當，擔憂式中難以置信的設計他說。

　　After all, a little healthy worrying is okay if it leads to constructive action -- like having a doctor look at that weird spot on your back.

　　畢竟，稍許健康的擔憂是未嘗不可的，如果擔憂可以帶來建設性的行為----如讓醫生檢查一下你背上奇怪的斑點。

　　Hallowell insists, though, that theres a right way to worry.

　　但是Hallowell堅持認為，擔憂存在著一種正確的模式。

　　Never do it alone, get the facts and then make a plan, he says.

　　永遠不要只是擔憂，要獲取事實，然后指定計劃他說。

　　Most of us have survived a recession, so were familiar with the belt-tightening strategies needed to survive a slump.

　　我們中的大多數都有從衰退中熬過來的精力，所以我們都熟知度過低潮所需要的節約政策。

　　Unfortunately, few of us have much experience dealing with the threat of terrorism, so its been difficult to get facts about how we should respond.

　　不幸的是，我們中僅有少數人有處理恐怖主義危險的經驗，所以要獲取我們應該如何應對的信息變得十分困難。

　　Thats why Hallowell believes it was okay for people to indulge some extreme worries last fall by asking doctors for Cipro and buying gas masks.

　　這就是為什么Hallowell認為在去年秋天的時候，人們向醫生獲取抗炭疽菌的藥物和購買防毒面具并由此深陷于某種極度擔憂中的行為是可以理解的。