listening to Mozart makes you smarter or that they have a photographic memory.

聽莫札特會變聰明，或他們可以過目不忘

But... that's just not the case. Using the power of scientific research, let's bust...

但是事實並非如此。透過科學的力量來研究，讓我們破除

some popular misconceptions about memory, intelligence and your brain.

許多人對於記憶、智慧還有大腦的錯誤觀念

If somebody tells you "listening to classical music increases your intelligence."

如果有人跟你說：「聽古典樂可以變聰明」

tell them to take it Bach. (Bach 跟 back 讀音相近)

叫他們收回這句話

In one study, participants listened to either a Mozart sonata, verbal instructions or silence

研究顯示，測試者分別聆聽莫札特奏鳴曲、口語授課內容或是靜音

and then did parts of an IQ test.

然後讓他們做智力測驗的某些部分

Those who listened to Mozart did perform better in spatial-reasoning tasks.

那些聽莫札特的人確實在「空間推理」上有較好的表現

But… this enhancing effect of music, also known as "the Mozart effect", is only temporary.

但是，這種音樂的強化效果，也就是我們所說的「莫札特效應」只是暫時性的

It wore off in less than 15 minutes.

它在 15 分鐘之內就會消失

Subsequent studies have found that the "Mozart effect" only works for short periods when people enjoy the music,

後續研究發現，「莫札特效應」只有在人們享受音樂的一小段時間有效，

and it doesn't work when the major chords are replaced by minor chords.

而且如果大調和弦轉換成小調和弦就沒有用了

If you hear that someone has a "photographic memory", don't let it strike a chord.

如果你聽到有人說某人擁有「過目不忘」的能力，不要輕易相信

There's no scientific evidence that we can remember things so instagood that our abilities mimic a camera.

目前並沒有科學證實我們的記憶力可以強到跟照相機一樣

People may have eidetic memory,

人們可能有遺覺記憶，

where they have an exceptional ability to process and organise information very efficiently

也就是有超群的能力可以有效率的傳遞並組織訊息

but this isn't the same as having an image in your brain.

但這不代表可以把影像映入腦海

In one study, researchers show that

另外一個研究顯示，

mental representations about photographs aren't encoded the same way that photographs are recalled.

人類心智表徵從外界接收影像以及腦中再次投攝影像的方式不同

It's not possible to view a picture in your brain just as you observed it.

我們是不可能在腦中看到當初眼睛觀察到的圖像的

If you do want to think like the Flash… crossword puzzles and brain games aren't the way do it.

如果你希望腦筋可以動得飛快...縱橫字謎和益智遊戲幫不了你的

There's a popular belief that playing games keeps your brain young.

很多人都相信這種遊戲可以預防腦部退化

But... that's a trivial pursuit.

事實上...無濟於事

In one study, participants from 60 to 90 years old were split into groups.

某研究將 60 歲至 90 歲的測試者分組

Some groups learned new skills, like digital photography or sewing quilts,

有些組別學新技能，像是數位攝影或是縫棉被，

and the other groups participated in social clubs, did crossword puzzles or watched documentaries.

有些組參加社團，玩縱橫字謎遊戲或是看紀錄片

Those who learned new skills and applied them to something creative - like photography or quilting -

那些學習新技能，像是攝影或做棉被，並將之用來創作的人

showed the greatest improvements on memory tasks after three months.

在三個月後，他們這組的測試者在記憶力上的表現進步最多

And if you're looking to stitch up a higher score on a multiple choice test,

然後如果你想要選擇題考高分，

thinking "your first guess is always your best" isn't sew smart.

然後你認為你的第一眼認定的答案總是對的，並不是很聰明 (sew 發音跟 so 一樣)

Pretty much all research on sticking with your initial hunches suggests that

幾乎所有關於相信直覺的研究顯示，

most answer changes are from incorrect to correct,

多半大家更改答案都是從錯的改成正確的，

and people who change their answers usually improve their test scores.

而且通常改答案會提高你的考試成績

It's said we buy into this myth–sometimes called the "first instinct fallacy"

據說我們會相信這種叫做「直覺謬誤」的迷思，

because it feels worse to change a correct answer to an incorrect one.

因為當我們把對的答案換成錯的答案時，感覺實在是太糟了

That makes changing right answers to wrong more memorable, so it seems more probable.

這讓我們難以忘懷這個失敗的經驗，所以才會讓人覺得好像不該改答案

And now if your first instinct is to click away, maybe that isn't always best…

如果現在你的直覺告訴你要離開我們網頁，也許這不是最佳選擇...

stick around and let me know what you think in the comments.

停留一會兒然後留言告訴我你的想法

Following my Twitter and Tumblr for brainy facts and episode updates,

想知道更多大腦的秘密還有最新影片可以追蹤我的 Twitter 以及 Tumblr，

and if you do know already, subscribe to BrainCraft. I have a new episode out every Thursday.

如果你早就知道這些了，可以訂閱 BrainCraft，每週四都會有新的影片