Super intelligence—brain-chips

海詞積累

1.neuroscientist n.神經系統科學家

2.drone n.無人機

3.stimulation n.刺激

4.peripheral adj.神經末梢區域的

5.neural interface神經接口

“Make it so that it has an Internet connection,and goes to Wikipedia,and when I think this particular thought,it gives me the answer.”Northwestern UniversityneuroscientistDr Moran Cerf told CBS.The neuroscientist and business professor is currently working to develop one such chip,with the goal of improving human intelligence by bonding it with technology.

This idea has taken off in recent years,with initiatives such as Elon Musk-backed Neuralink working to develop brain-computer interfaces.DARPA has also expressed continued interest in the field as it works to enhance soldiers'cognitive abilities and grasp on technology.DARPA selected a number of teams in July to develop aneural interfaceas part of its new N3 program,with a goal of developing systems that would allow troops to send and receive information using their brainwaves,according to Nextgov.This means troops could one day control drones,cyber defense systems,and other technology with their mind.

It might sound like science fiction,but the agency is looking forward to see this done in one of two ways:a non-invasive device outside of the body,or a non-surgical system that could be swallowed,injected,or delivered up the nose.

And in spring of 2017,the agency funded eight separate research efforts to determine if electricalstimulationcan safely be used to“enhance learning and accelerate training skills”.The program,called the Targeted Neuroplasticity Training（TNT） program,aimed to use the body'speripheralnervous system to accelerate the learning process.This would be done by activating a key process in the brain involved in learning,with electrical stimulation.Ultimately,doing this could allow a person to quickly master complex skills that would normally take thousands of hours of practice.

According to Cerf,we may be just a few years away from the solution.But,its use in everyday society also could make for extreme intelligence gaps within a given population.

Reading Check

1.What will happen if the soldiers are equipped

with the chip in future?

A.It will improve their memories.

B.It will enhance their recognition technology.

C.Soldiers can send and receive information through eyes.

D.Soldiers can control some hi-technologies with their minds.

2.What will happen if the chip is really used in human beings?

A.It is likely to bring about the extreme intelligence gaps.

B.It is likely to replace the learning process.

C.It will make people afraid of non-surgical system.

D.It will be delivered into the noses.

Language Study

Ⅰ.文本填空

1.DARPA has also expressed _______（持久的）interest in the field as it works to enhance soldiers'cognitive abilities and_______（領會）on technology.

2.DARPA selected a number of teams in July _______（開發）a neural interface as part of its new N3 program,with a goal of developing systems that would _________（允許） troops to send and receive information using their brainwaves,according to Nextgov.

3.And in spring of2017,the agency ________（提供資金）eight separate research efforts to ___________（確定）if electrical stimulation can safely be used to“enhance learning and accelerate training skills”.

4.The program,called the Targeted Neuroplasticity Training （TNT） program,________（旨在）to use the body's peripheral nervous system to accelerate the learning process.

Ⅱ.寫作推薦

1.with意為“隨著；與……同時”，后面可接名詞或代詞。

This idea has taken off in recent years,with initiatives such as Elon Musk-backed Neuralink working to develop brain-computer interfaces.近年來，隨著Elon Musk支持的Neuralink等公司致力于開發大腦—計算機接口，這一想法開始流行起來。

2.過去分詞作后置定語，involved in意為“與……有關；涉及……”。

This would be done by activating a key process in the brain involved in learning,with electrical stimulation.這將通過電刺激激活大腦中與學習有關的一個關鍵過程來實現。