Brain Power: Size Matters

Grammar: 10 Most Common Prefixes

Use the dictionary and write more examples.

1.     un- (opposite)     Unhappy, unbutton, unkind, __________________                   

2.     re- (again)          Refresh, redo, retell, _____________________                   

3.    in-, im-, il-, ir- (not)    Impatient, incomplete, illiterate, __________

4.    dis- (not)              Discomfort, disagree, _____________________           

5.    en-, em- (put into)  Enjoy, enrage, __________________________               

6.    non- (not)               Nonsense, nonstop, ______________________                

7.    in-, im- (in)            Import, influx, __________________________                 

8.    over- (excessive)    Overdue, overact, _______________________                 

9.    mis- (bad or incorrect)   Misuse, misinform,___________________     

10.  sub- (below)          Submarine, subconscious, __________________

Write the meaning of each word:

1. dishonest

2. replay

3. underwater

4. unable

5.mistreat

6. untied

7. underage

8. endure

9. nonverbal

   10. recount

How much do you know about the brain? Fill in the KWL Chart

What I KNOW	What I WANT to know	What I LEARNED

Brain Anatomy Craft: Brain Hats

Reading 1: How running can boost the size of your brain: Scientists discover people who keep fit have better memories and clearer thinking

Vocabulary

1.     proof

2.    trim: 苗條的；整潔的

3.    fit

4.    cognitive

5.    evidence

6.    links

7.    debilitate: 使衰弱

8.    aerobic: 有氧的

9.    Alzheimers

10.  Treadmill

11.   Improvements

12.  Hippocampus

13.  actively

14.  reproducing

15.  psychology

If you thought running was just great for the body, then think again. Scientists have found proof the sport not only keeps people trim but also boosts brain power. They also found that unfit people tended to have smaller brains and lower cognitive skills. The findings add to a growing body of evidence which links exercise with helping protect the brain against ageing and also helping it replace dying cells. This might lower the risk of diseases such as Alzheimer's. One research paper within its latest issue sees scientists at Kentucky University putting 30 adults aged 59-69 on a treadmill. Their heart and lungs were measured and an MRI scanner was used to test the blood flow to their brains. Those who were less fit had smaller brains compared to the fitter volunteers who had larger brains. Scientists in Germany followed 21 adults aged between 60-77. As they went through a three-month fitness program they saw improvements in their memory.  Researchers are not yet sure why exercise helps to protect brain cells but some research in mice has produced results. Mice, examined at the National Institute on Aging, in Baltimore, found that cells in the hippocampus, an area of the brain used for memory, were actively reproducing while their fatter peers were in decline. Linda Clare, a professor of  psychology said, 'Moderate-intensity aerobic activity such as brisk walking, cycling or running can produce changes in brain structure and function.'

研究發現堅持跑步的人腦子更大更好用

如果你認為跑步只對身體有好處，那麼再想想吧。科學家已經找到證據證明體育運動不僅能讓人保持苗條身材，還能提升腦力。研究發現，喜歡健身的人一般大腦更大，記憶力更好，思維更清晰。他們也發現不喜歡健身的人往往大腦較小，認知功能退化。越來越多的證據表明，鍛煉有助於抵禦大腦老化，促進死細胞代謝。鍛煉還可能降低患老年癡呆症等退行性疾病的風險。在研究這一新論題的一篇論文中，肯塔基大學的科學家們對30位59-69歲的人做了一項實驗，讓他們在跑步機上鍛煉。研究者測量了他們的心肺功能，使用磁共振成像儀判斷大腦的血液流量。那些身體不太健壯的志願者大腦較小，而體格健壯的人大腦較大。德國的科學家們對21名60-77歲的成人做了跟蹤調查。經過三個月的運動健身，他們的記憶力得到了改善。研究者們還不確定鍛煉有助於保護腦細胞的原因，但一些對老鼠的研究已經找到了答案。位於巴爾的摩的美國國家衰老研究所發現，那些體型苗條的老鼠，大腦用於記憶的區域——海馬體中的細胞在積極地繁殖，而胖老鼠的海馬體細胞在下降。英國埃克塞特大學衰老和癡呆臨床心理學教授、全球腦健康委員會成員琳達•克雷爾對《星期日泰晤士報》說："快走、騎車、跑步等中等強度的有氧運動可以改變大腦的結構和功能。"

What also helps our brains besides exercise? FOOD!

Reading 2: Which colour is best for your brain power? Students concentrate better in rooms painted red and yellow rather than pastel shades

Vocabulary:

1. struggle

2. Prep [preparation]

3. concentration, focus

4. surrounded

5. vivid

6. entrance test

7. performance

8. physiological

9. state

10. arousal

11. optimal

12. stimulating

13. ironically

14. associating

15. discomfort

16. cramming

 

Struggling with that last minute test prep? Paint your walls yellow and red. Brightly colored rooms can boost your concentration levels, scientists have discovered. Students say they prefer to study in environments with pale colors which they feel are most relaxing, but researchers have found the opposite works better. Levels of focus in students are higher when they are surrounded by vivid colors, a study from Curtin University, Australia found. Student were asked to read and answer multiple-choice questions from a university entrance test in rooms with six different color. The rooms were pale and vivid shades of blue, red and yellow. Their reading comprehension scores were higher in the vivid red and yellow rooms. Lead author said: 'Bright colors can help students' learning performance by positively affecting psychological and physiological states. 'If the reading is difficult, the vivid colors may increase arousal to optimal levels.' The colors red and yellow are more stimulating than blue and green. For example, student heart rates increased in red and yellow conditions, but decreased in blue. Arousal improves performance up to an optimal level, with too much arousal causing a drop off in performance. Ironically, two-thirds of participants believed vivid red wasn't a suitable color for a study room, associating the color with discomfort, annoyance and danger. But given their improved learning performance, maybe a little discomfort, besides last minute cramming, is what they need. It seems red and yellow may be the future of study areas..

 

紅色和黃色的牆紙跟學習更配哦

還在為迎戰考試而作最後奮鬥嗎？把牆刷成黃色和紅色吧。科學家發現，色彩鮮豔的房間能提升你的注意力集中水準。學生們說他們更喜歡在淺色環境裡學習，這讓他們感到最為放鬆。但研究者發現，相反條件下的學習效果更好。澳大利亞科廷大學的一項研究發現，當學生處在色彩鮮豔的環境中時，注意力更集中。參與研究的學生被安排在六種不同色彩的房間裡閱讀一段文章並回答多項選擇題，題目選自大學入學考試。房間的顏色分別是淺淡的藍、紅、黃和鮮豔的藍、紅、黃。在鮮豔的紅色和黃色房間裡，他們的閱讀理解分數明顯更高。該研究的第一作者阿西爾•阿婭施表示："鮮亮的色彩能對人的心理和生理產生積極影響，從而有助於學生的學習表現。"

"如果閱讀任務很困難，鮮豔的色彩可能將興奮度提升到最佳水準。" 過去的一些研究已經表明，比起藍色和綠色，紅色和黃色更具有刺激作用。比如，在紅色和黃色環境下，學生的心跳速度會加快，但在藍色環境下會降低。這符合耶克斯-多德森定律——適度興奮可以提升工作效率至最佳水準，過度興奮則會導致效率降低。而諷刺的是，三分之二的參與者認為，學習的房間不適合採用鮮豔的紅色。他們將紅色與沮喪、不適、惱怒和危險聯繫起來。但考慮到學習效果的提高，或許除了最後關頭的惡補，些許不適感正是他們所需要的。鑒於科廷大學和其他西澳洲大學對此研究的熱情，紅色和黃色或許會成為未來學習室的主色調。

Reading 3: Over the Counter Medicine Shrink Brain

Vocabulary:

1.     pharmacies

2.    cough syrup

3.    allergy

4.    over-the-counter

5.    side effects

6.    cognitive

7.    damage

8.    dementia

9.    insomnia

10.  metabolism

Many of us go to pharmacies for headache tablets, cough syrups or allergy treatments. However, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs may cause more harm than good. A newly published journal says many of these medicines may have serious side effects. These include brain damage, dementia and even shrinkage. This happens in older adults who take OTC medicines for asthma, aches and pains, insomnia and allergies, etc.

Researchers from Indiana University looked at the link between OTC drugs and brain function in older people. The scientists found that OTC drugs lower our metabolism, so the brain isn't as healthy. The research gives us a better understanding of the brain. A researcher said she would not tell her grandparents to take OTC drugs unless they had to.

Writing: How to Write a Topic Sentence

Read the paragraphs. Write the number of the topic sentence next to the correct paragraph. Write TS where the sentence goes in the paragraph.

Topic sentences: 1. I lived in a small town when I was a child. 2. When I have my own children, I want to move to a small town. 3. The town I live in is very small. 4. There are two main advantages of living in a small town.

Paragraph A: Topic sentence ____ First, you know everyone and everyone knows you. This helps you to feel safe, and it is friendlier. Secondly, it is quiet and there are fewer cars. This means there is less pollution than in a big town or city.

Paragraph B: Topic sentence ____ It was a very nice place to live then. Now it is much bigger than before. More people live there and some big businesses opened offices there. My parents still live there but they say it was better in the past.

Paragraph C: Topic sentence ____ I don’t want my children to live in a big city because a big city is not as friendly or as safe as a village. I want to move to the village where my grandparents live. The children can play in the street there and everyone knows each other.