多动症是一种疾病吗？

随着对多动症的科学理解不断发展，科学家们开始质疑多动症是否应该被视为一种功能紊乱。

双语精读

Coming into focus

进入焦点

It is "like being inside a pinball machine with a hundred balls," says Lucy. "Three inner monologues," says Phillip. "Like several tracks playing at the same time," says Sarah.

“就像置身于有一百个球的弹球机里。”露西说。“心里有三个声音在说话。”菲利普说。“就像好几首歌同时播放。”莎拉说。

This is how people with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) describe what is going on in their heads at any given moment. The number of ADHD diagnoses is rising fast in many countries.

患有注意力缺陷多动障碍的人说，他们的大脑就随时处于这种状态。在许多国家，多动症诊断数量正在迅速增加。

But for a growing number of experts, the evolving scientific understanding of ADHD is leading them to question whether it should be seen as a disorder at all. Instead, they say, ADHD may simply represent another point on the spectrum of neurodiversity: the range of different ways of thinking and behaving that count as normal.

但对于越来越多的专家来说，对多动症的科学理解不断发展，让他们质疑多动症是否应该被视为一种功能紊乱。相反，他们说，多动症可能只是神经多样性连续光谱中的一个点：神经多样性是一系列被视为正常的不同思维和行为方式。

ADHD is not an easy condition to define. Psychologists often link it to "executive function", an umbrella term for working memory, cognitive flexibility and the ability to inhibit actions and thoughts when necessary.

多动症不是一种容易定义的疾病。心理学家经常将其与“执行功能”联系起来，这是一个涵盖工作记忆、认知灵活性、在必要时抑制行动和思想的能力的总称。

Diagnosis currently relies on a set of questions about inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity, as well as the severity of the problems that symptoms cause. Such subjective diagnoses are, inevitably, imperfect.

目前的诊断除了依赖于症状引起的问题的严重程度，还依赖于一系列关于注意力不集中、多动和冲动性的提问。这些主观诊断难免是不完善的。

Scientists looking to simplify matters with a checklist of biological markers of ADHD have come up empty-handed. Two people with ADHD may exhibit similar symptoms caused by entirely different underlying psychological and neurological processes.

一些科学家寻求用多动症的生物指标清单来简化这个问题，但也一无所获。两个患有多动症的人可能会表现出相似的症状，而这些症状是由完全不同的深层心理和神经过程引起的。

Imaging studies that have examined the structure and workings of the brain have failed to agree on what, if anything, characterises the ADHD brain. Studies looking for genetic clues have also revealed little, other than the discovery that ADHD is heritable.

检查大脑结构和运作的成像研究未能就多动症大脑的特征（如果有的话）得出一致结论。寻找遗传线索的研究除了发现多动症具有遗传性之外，几乎没有发现其他结果。

That may explain why specific psychological interventions, such as therapies to improve working memory, have failed to make a difference. Medication, by contrast, can be highly effective. Psychostimulants, the most commonly prescribed, help with focus and concentration, and work immediately.

这或许可以解释为什么特定的心理干预措施（如改善工作记忆的疗法）未能产生效果。相反，药物治疗却非常有效。最常开的药是精神兴奋剂，有助于集中注意力，并且效果立竿见影。

Their effectiveness, says Dr Sonuga-Barke, probably has to do with the fact that they act on dopamine and norepinephrine receptors, which are found all over the brain. The drugs, in other words, stimulate many of the wide range of brain systems implicated in ADHD symptoms.

索努加-巴克博士表示，这种药物的有效性可能与它们作用于多巴胺和去甲肾上腺素受体有关，这两种物质遍布大脑各处。换言之，这些药物刺激了与多动症症状有关的许多大脑系统。

词汇预习

effective [高考]
美[ɪˈfektɪv] | 英[ɪˈfektɪv]
adj. 有效的；生效的；实际的
define [高考]
美[dɪˈfaɪn] | 英[dɪˈfaɪn]
v. 规定；限定；定义；解释
executive [高考]
美[ɪɡˈzekjətɪv] | 英[ɪɡˈzekjətɪv]
adj. 行政的；决策的；经营的；[计算机]执行指令 n. 行政主管；行政部门；决策者
contrast [高考]
美[ˈkɑːntræst , kənˈtræst] | 英[ˈkɒntrɑːst , kənˈtrɑːst]
n. 对比；差别；对照物 v. 对比；成对照 n. [计算机] 反差
biological [高考]
美[ˌbaɪəˈlɑːdʒɪkl] | 英[ˌbaɪəˈlɒdʒɪkl]
adj. 生物的；生物学的
disorder [高考]
美[dɪsˈɔːrdər] | 英[dɪsˈɔːdə(r)]
n. 紊乱；疾病；失调；混乱 v. 扰乱；使(身心等)失调
psychological [高考]
美[ˌsaɪkəˈlɑːdʒɪkl] | 英[ˌsaɪkəˈlɒdʒɪkl]
adj. 心理(学)的
inner [高考]
美[ˈɪnər] | 英[ˈɪnə(r)]
adj. 内心的；内部的；里面的 n. 里面
commonly [高考]
美[ˈkɑmənli] | 英[ˈkɒmənli]
adv. 一般地；通常地；普通地
entirely [高考]
美[ɪnˈtaɪərli] | 英[ɪnˈtaɪəli]
adv. 完全地；全部地
currently [高考]
美[ˈkɜːrəntli] | 英[ˈkʌrəntli]
adv. 现在；通常；当前
concentration [高考]
美[ˌkɑːnsnˈtreɪʃn] | 英[ˌkɒnsnˈtreɪʃn]
n. 集中；专心；浓度
effectiveness [高考]
美[əˈfɛktɪvnɪs] | 英[ɪˌfek'tɪvnɪs]
n. 有效性；效力
flexibility [高考]
美[ˌfleksə'bɪləti] | 英[ˌfleksə'bɪləti]
n. 灵活性；弹性；适应性；柔韧性
cognitive [高考]
美[ˈkɑːɡnətɪv] | 英[ˈkɒɡnətɪv]
adj. 认识的；认知的；有认识力的
inevitably [高考]
美[ɪnˈevɪtəbli] | 英[ɪnˈevɪtəbli]
adv. 不可避免地
range [高考]
美[reɪndʒ] | 英[reɪndʒ]
n.范围; 射程; 类别; （山脉，房屋等的）排列 vi.搜索; 变化; 延伸; 漫游 vt.排列; （按一定位置或顺序）排序; 把…分类; 徘徊 adj.牧场的，放牧区的
simplify [高考]
美[ˈsɪmplɪfaɪ] | 英[ˈsɪmplɪfaɪ]
vt. 简化；使简单
subjective [高考]
美[səbˈdʒektɪv] | 英[səbˈdʒektɪv]
adj. 主观的
in other words [高考]
美[ɪn 'ʌðər wɜːdz] | 英[ɪn 'ʌðə wɜːdz]
换句话说；也就是说
other than [高考]
美[ˈʌðər ðæn] | 英[ˈʌðə(r) ðæn]
除了；不同于
agree on [高考]
美[əˈɡri ɑn] | 英[əˈɡri: ɔn]
对 ... 意见一致
thinking [高考]
美[ˈθɪŋkɪŋ] | 英[ˈθɪŋkɪŋ]
n. 思考；思想 adj. 好思考的；有理性的
stimulate [高考]
美[ˈstɪmjuleɪt] | 英[ˈstɪmjuleɪt]
vt. 刺激；激励；鼓舞 vi. 起刺激作用
deficit [四级]
美[ˈdefɪsɪt] | 英[ˈdefɪsɪt]
n. 赤字；逆差；亏损；亏空；不足
imperfect [四级]
美[ɪmˈpɜrfɪkt] | 英[ɪmˈpɜ:fɪkt]
adj. 不完美的；有缺点的；未完善的
spectrum [四级]
美[ˈspektrəm] | 英[ˈspektrəm]
n. 系列；幅度；范围；光谱；[科]频谱
do with [四级]
美[dʊ wɪð] | 英[duː wɪð]
处理；利用；忍受；需要；相处
act on [四级]
美[ækt ɑːn] | 英[ækt ɒn]
v. 对…起作用；按照…行事
leading [四级]
美[ˈliːdɪŋ , ˈledɪŋ] | 英[ˈliːdɪŋ , ˈledɪŋ]
adj. 领导的；指导的；主要的；在前的
inhibit [六级]
美[ɪnˈhɪbɪt] | 英[ɪnˈhɪbɪt]
v. 抑制；阻止；使不能
underlying [专四]
美[ˌʌndərˈlaɪɪŋ] | 英[ˌʌndəˈlaɪɪŋ]
adj. 潜在的；隐含的；在下面的；基本的；[经]优先的
neurological [专八]
美[ˌnʊrəˈlɑːdʒɪkl] | 英[ˌnjʊərəˈlɒdʒɪkl]
adj. 神经病学的
severity [专八]
美[sɪ'verəti] | 英[sɪ'verəti]
n. 严格；严重；严肃

重点讲解

Coming into focus

进入焦点

deficit n. 赤字；不足；缺陷

【例】a deficit in rainfall 雨量不足

a hearing deficit 听觉缺陷

【拓展】deficient adj. 缺少的；有缺陷的

deficiency n. 缺少；缺陷

It is "like being inside a pinball machine with a hundred balls," says Lucy. "Three inner monologues," says Phillip. "Like several tracks playing at the same time," says Sarah.

“就像置身于有一百个球的弹球机里。”露西说。“心里有三个声音在说话。”菲利普说。“就像好几首歌同时播放。”莎拉说。

deficit n. 赤字；不足；缺陷

【例】a deficit in rainfall 雨量不足

a hearing deficit 听觉缺陷

【拓展】deficient adj. 缺少的；有缺陷的

deficiency n. 缺少；缺陷

This is how people with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) describe what is going on in their heads at any given moment. The number of ADHD diagnoses is rising fast in many countries.

患有注意力缺陷多动障碍的人说，他们的大脑就随时处于这种状态。在许多国家，多动症诊断数量正在迅速增加。

deficit n. 赤字；不足；缺陷

【例】a deficit in rainfall 雨量不足

a hearing deficit 听觉缺陷

【拓展】deficient adj. 缺少的；有缺陷的

deficiency n. 缺少；缺陷

But for a growing number of experts, the evolving scientific understanding of ADHD is leading them to question whether it should be seen as a disorder at all. Instead, they say, ADHD may simply represent another point on the spectrum of neurodiversity: the range of different ways of thinking and behaving that count as normal.

但对于越来越多的专家来说，对多动症的科学理解不断发展，让他们质疑多动症是否应该被视为一种功能紊乱。相反，他们说，多动症可能只是神经多样性连续光谱中的一个点：神经多样性是一系列被视为正常的不同思维和行为方式。

disorder n. 失调；紊乱

【例】eating disorders 进食障碍

【近义词】dysfunction n. （身体）机能障碍

ADHD is not an easy condition to define. Psychologists often link it to "executive function", an umbrella term for working memory, cognitive flexibility and the ability to inhibit actions and thoughts when necessary.

多动症不是一种容易定义的疾病。心理学家经常将其与“执行功能”联系起来，这是一个涵盖工作记忆、认知灵活性、在必要时抑制行动和思想的能力的总称。

umbrella n. 雨伞；总体

【例】an umbrella organization

（包含不同单位的）综合组织

【近义词】collective name 总称

inhibit v. 抑制；妨碍

【例】A lack of oxygen may inhibit brain development.

氧气不足可能阻碍大脑发育。

【搭配】inhibit sb from doing sth 阻碍某人做某事

Diagnosis currently relies on a set of questions about inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity, as well as the severity of the problems that symptoms cause. Such subjective diagnoses are, inevitably, imperfect.

目前的诊断除了依赖于症状引起的问题的严重程度，还依赖于一系列关于注意力不集中、多动和冲动性的提问。这些主观诊断难免是不完善的。

impulsive adj. 冲动的

【例】impulsive spending 冲动消费

【拓展】impulse n. 冲动

severity n. 严重性

【例】the severity of the injuries

受伤的严重程度

【拓展】severe adj. 严重的

exhibit v. 表现；显示

【例】The leader exhibited good judgment.

领导表现出了良好的判断力。

【近义词】show/display v. 表现

【拓展】exhibition n. 展览；表现

Scientists looking to simplify matters with a checklist of biological markers of ADHD have come up empty-handed. Two people with ADHD may exhibit similar symptoms caused by entirely different underlying psychological and neurological processes.

一些科学家寻求用多动症的生物指标清单来简化这个问题，但也一无所获。两个患有多动症的人可能会表现出相似的症状，而这些症状是由完全不同的深层心理和神经过程引起的。

impulsive adj. 冲动的

【例】impulsive spending 冲动消费

【拓展】impulse n. 冲动

severity n. 严重性

【例】the severity of the injuries

受伤的严重程度

【拓展】severe adj. 严重的

exhibit v. 表现；显示

【例】The leader exhibited good judgment.

领导表现出了良好的判断力。

【近义词】show/display v. 表现

【拓展】exhibition n. 展览；表现

检查大脑结构和运作的成像研究未能就多动症大脑的特征（如果有的话）得出一致结论。寻找遗传线索的研究除了发现多动症具有遗传性之外，几乎没有发现其他结果。

heritable adj. 可继承的；可遗传的

【例】Autism is a heritable neurological disorder.

自闭症是一种有遗传性的神经障碍。

【近义词】inheritable adj. 可继承的；可遗传的

run in the family 家族遗传的

【拓展】inherit v. 继承；遗传

That may explain why specific psychological interventions, such as therapies to improve working memory, have failed to make a difference. Medication, by contrast, can be highly effective. Psychostimulants, the most commonly prescribed, help with focus and concentration, and work immediately.

这或许可以解释为什么特定的心理干预措施（如改善工作记忆的疗法）未能产生效果。相反，药物治疗却非常有效。最常开的药是精神兴奋剂，有助于集中注意力，并且效果立竿见影。

intervention n. 干预；介入；调停

【例】The two men would have continued fighting but for the intervention of a policeman.

要是没有警察出面介入，那两个人会一个劲儿打下去的。

【拓展】intervene v. 干预；介入

【辨析】interference n. 干扰；干涉

索努加-巴克博士表示，这种药物的有效性可能与它们作用于多巴胺和去甲肾上腺素受体有关，这两种物质遍布大脑各处。换言之，这些药物刺激了与多动症症状有关的许多大脑系统。

implicate v. 牵涉；相关

【例】A lot of people were implicated in the scandal.

许多人与这桩丑闻有牵连。

【近义词】involve v. 涉及

【拓展】implication n. 牵连；影响

【例】the implications of their actions

他们的行动所产生的影响

课后练习

What question do some experts raise about ADHD?
A. Whether the descriptions of ADHD are reliable.
B. Whether ADHD should be considered normal.
C. Whether an effective treatment for ADHD can be found.
D. Whether the rising number of ADHD diagnoses is accurate.
The psychological diagnoses of ADHD are ____.
A. precise and clear
B. subjective and vague
C. irrelevant and dubious
D. comprehensive and reliable
What can be learned about the biological markers of ADHD?
A. They are more accurate than psychological diagnoses.
B. They have changed the scientific definition of ADHD.
C. They fail to provide any conclusive result about ADHD.
D. They primarily depend on the characteristics of the ADHD brain.
Why is medication effective for ADHD?
A. Because it is more scientific than psychological interventions.
B. Because it has a long-term impact on the cognitive functions.
C. Because it acts on large areas of brain that are related to ADHD.
D. Because it targets a specific brain system rather than multiple systems.