But our understanding has changed drastically to the point where we now see the brain as

但我們的理解發生巨大改變，現在我們將大腦視為

plastic and constantly changing. But what if I told you that simply thinking could

有可塑性且不斷改變的。但若我告訴你，光是思考

not only the way your brain works but its physical shape and structure as well?

就影響不只是你大腦運作的方式，還有它的形狀與結構呢？

It turns out this is exactly what happens. From a neuroscientific

事實證明這是真的。從一個神經科學的

standpoint imagining an action and doing it require the same motor and sensory

觀點來看，想像並完成一個行為是需要使用到

programs in the brain. For example, if you were to close your eyes and imagine the

腦中相同的運動與感官。例如，如果你閉上雙眼並想像

letter "B" the primary visual cortex lights up in the same way it does when you

字母B，主要的視覺皮層會與你注視螢幕上字母時

look at the letter on the screen. Take a moment and imagine yourself writing out

發生一樣的反應。花些時間想像一下你

your signature with your dominant hand.

正使用你的慣用手簽名

Chances are the amount of time it takes you to simply imagine doing it is

事實上，你純粹想像的時間

similar to how long it actually takes to write it out. Try doing the same thing

會與你真正寫出來的時間相似。試試看

with your non dominant hand and it actually takes you longer to write and

改用你的非慣用手進行同一件事，不管是寫或是想像都會花較久的

imagine.

時間

How is this relevant?

這是怎麼發生關聯的？

Well because imagination and action are actually integrated and engage the same

這是因為想像力與實際行動是一體的，而且牽涉到相同的

neural pathways, practicing one actually influences the other.

神經傳導路徑，使得彼此會互相影響

One fascinating study took two groups and had them practice piano for two

在一個神奇的實驗中，兩群人被要求每天練習鋼琴

hours a day.

兩小時

Except one group was only allowed to use mental practice, they couldn't touch the

除了其中一組只被允許使用想像來練習，他們不能接觸到

piano but would sit in front of it and imagine practicing. The surprising result,

鋼琴但是可以坐在前面並想像在練習。結果令人驚訝，

the exact same physical changes took place in the motor cortex of both groups.

兩群人的運動皮繩發生了相同的生理變化

And after three days their accuracy in playing was the exact same,

三天後，他們彈鋼琴的準確度完全一樣

beyond five days the physical practice group did begin to excel faster

超過五天，實際訓練組開始進步的較快

but the imagination group, when given the chance to practice physically, was able

但當提供想像組機會去實際練習時，他們能夠

to catch up to their skill level quickly. Perhaps more incredible is an experiment

快速趕上另一組的技巧程度。有個實驗或許更神奇，

which used imagination in an effort to strengthen muscles. Both groups did the

實驗中運用想像力來加強肌肉。兩組皆

same figure muscle exercises for four weeks

做同樣的肌肉訓練四週

though one group simply did it mentally. Those who actually did the physical

但有一組只在心裡做。那些真的實際做了

exercise increased their strength by thirty percent while those who imagined

運動的人增加了30%的力量，而純粹用想像的那組人

doing it increased their muscle strength by twenty two percent.

增加了22%的肌肉力量

This is because the neurons responsible for the movement instruction were still

這是因為負責指示動作的神經仍然

being used and strengthened, resulting in increased strength when the muscles

有被使用且被加強，使得肌肉在收縮時力量會增加

actually contracted. So while your thoughts don't have some mystical or

因此儘管你的思考並沒有些神秘或

magical power, mental practice is an effective way to prepare for a physical

有魔法的力量，用想像練習是一種訓練身體有效的方法

skill. Each thought actually changes the structure and function of your brain by

每個念頭真的會改變你大腦的結構與功能

affecting the neurons at the microscopic level.

藉由微微影響神經

Though as much as we wish you could sit there and become the next Mozart, it won't

不管你再多麼希望你能坐在這裡並成為下一個莫札特

happen without a lot of hard physical work, but a little imagination never hurts.

不下很多苦功是沒辦法讓這件事成真的，但有點想像也無妨

This episode of a AsapSCIENCE is supported by audible.com, the leading provider of

本集的AsapSCIENCE是由audible.com贊助播出，audible.com是有聲書的

audio books, with over one hundred thousand downloadable titles across all

領先供應商，且所有種類的文學都有超過10萬本可下載

types of literature. This episode was inspired by the book "The Brain That

本集啟發自Norman Doidge的書「改變自己的大腦」

Changes Itself" by Norman Doidge. You can download this audiobook or another of

你可以在audible.com/asap免費下載這本有聲書或其他

your choice for free at audible.com/asap.

任何你想要的

Special thanks to audible for making these videos possible and offering you a

特別感謝audible讓這些影片變為可能並免費提供你

free audio book at audible.com/asap, and subscribe for more weekly

一本audible.com/asap有聲書，訂閱以取得更多每週

science videos.

科學影片