Music cures our brains

廣東 李奕群

1What's unusual is that,while many people with aphasia(失語癥)can't speak,some can still sing—thanks to how musical memories are stored in the brain.

2While your brain mostly processes language on the left side, it uses both sides to process music and store musical memories.So if people have damage on the left side of their brains and struggle to put original thoughts into words, they might still be able to use the right side of their brains to sing a favorite song.And because of this connection between music and language, therapists can use music to train the right part of the brain to recover lost language skills.This process is called melodic intonation therapy (音樂療法).

3To start off, the therapist typically asks the patient to sing a short sentence like “Nice to meet you”, using a melody that copies the natural intonation of the phrase.Gradually,they move on to saying the sentence with a sing-song intonation, and then speaking the sentence, “Nice to meet you! Nice to meet you.Nice to meet you.Nice to meet you.”

4When there's less damage in the brain, music therapy can be used to strengthen connections in the injured area of the brain.For example, it can be used to treat problems caused by moderate brain injury or TBI.In one study, scientists recruited seven patients.During the eight-week study, the scientists gave the patients two piano lessons a week and instructed them to practice at home each day.Afterwards, the patients listened to music in an FMRI scanner while the scientists monitored the activity in different regions of their brains.

5So,for those who can experience it,music is not only relaxing,uplifting and fun,but also stimulates their brains to create new connections and pathways.

Reading Check

1.Why can a person with aphasia sing songs?

A.Music is much easier than speaking.

B.Music is more interesting than speaking.

C.The brain uses both sides to process music.

D.The brain processes language on the right side.

2.What does paragraph 3 mainly talk about?

A.The process of melodic intonation therapy.

B.The function of melodic intonation therapy.

C.The purpose of melodic intonation therapy.

D.The significance of melodic intonation therapy.

3.How does the author explain his opinion in paragraph 4?

A.By using an example.B.By making comparisons.

C.By listing numbers.D.By quoting opinions.

4.What do we know about melodic intonation therapy?

A.It can cure our brains in a short time.

B.It is more useful to the less damaged brain.

C.It can cure persons losing the ability to sing.

D.It is based on the connection between music and language.

?語篇解碼

本文是一篇說明文。實驗證明音樂療法可以幫助失語癥患者重拾語言能力，也可以幫助治療受損的大腦。

?語言學習

Ⅰ.語料薈萃

語篇單詞重要短語cuimages/BZ_24_530_488_533_489.pngre v. 治愈；解決process v. 加工；處理original adj. 最初的favorite adj. 最喜愛的train v. 訓練；教育；培養recover v. 康復；復原；重新獲得；恢復typically adv. 典型地；代表性地patient n. 病人；患者melody n. 旋律；曲調phrase n. 慣用法；詞組；樂句recruit v. 招聘；征募instruct v. 教；講授；教導monitor v. 監控；監聽____________stimulate______________________________________________________________v._刺激；激勵；鼓舞thanks to 幸虧；由于on the left side 在左側struggle to do sth 艱難地做某事sing a song 唱一首歌because of 因為；由于；基于connection between music and language 音樂和語言之間的聯系to start off 開始strengthen connections 加強連接for example 例如give lessons 授課____________in different re___________________________________________________________gions_在不同的地區

Ⅱ.語句分析

1.What's unusual is that, while many people with aphasia can't speak, some can still sing—thanks to how musical memories are stored in the brain.不同尋常的是，雖然許多失語癥患者不能說話，但（他們之中的）有些人仍然能唱歌——這要歸功于音樂記憶存儲在大腦中的方式。

【點石成金】本句中，What 引導主語從句；that 引導表語從句；while 表示前后意義上的對比或轉折，意為“盡管”；破折號在這里起解釋說明的作用。

2.So, for those who can experience it, music is not only relaxing, uplifting and fun,but also stimulates their brains to create new connections and pathways.所以，對于那些能感受到音樂的人來說，音樂不僅能讓他們放松、振奮和感到快樂，還能刺激大腦創造新的連接和通路。

【點石成金】本句中，who引導了定語從句；not only..., but also...意為“不僅……，而且……”。

?語言運用

Ⅰ.例句仿寫

1.盡管她缺乏經驗，但她工作熱情高漲。

__________________________, she has real enthusiasm for the work.

2.昨天打來電話的女士想買這棟房子。

The lady ___________________________ wants to buy the house.

Ⅱ.寫作實踐

假定你是李華，你的外國朋友Smith 的弟弟頭部輕微受傷，于是他寫信向你咨詢音樂療法。請你就此給他寫一封回信，內容包括：

1.音樂療法的步驟；

2.音樂療法的作用；

3.表達祝愿。

注意：

1.詞數80左右；

2.可以適當增加細節，以使行文連貫。

Dear Smith,

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

Yours,

Li Hua