stimuli['stɪmjʊlaɪ] 

n. （stimulus的复数）刺激

Thanks to the research done by the University of Westminster in the UK, we now know that people who watch horror films are enjoying a frightening number of positive side-effects.
多亏了英国威斯敏斯特大学的研究，我们现在知道了看恐怖电影的人能享受大量的积极副作用。

The university had survey participants watch scary films and monitored their heart rate, oxygen intake and output of carbon dioxide. 
这所大学让调查参与者看恐怖电影并监控他们的心率、氧气吸入量以及二氧化碳排出量。

Researchers found that the scary stimuli caused participants’ bodies to release adrenaline which triggers the nervous system’s fight or flight response.
研究员发现恐怖的刺激导致参与者的身体释放肾上腺素，这能触发神经系统的战斗或逃跑反应。

The researchers hypothesise that when this response is triggered the body starts burning fat stores for energy while also releasing blood sugar. 
研究员假定，当触发这种反应时，身体开始燃烧储存的脂肪以便产生能量，同时产生血糖。

It also forces your body to increase your metabolism, which helps your body burn sugar without the need for oxygen. The result is more calories burnt, and your mood is markedly better.
这也能使身体加快新陈代谢，帮助身体无需氧气消耗血糖。结果是消耗更多卡路里，显著改善你的情绪。

Dr Richard Mackenzie, a metabolism specialist at the University of Westminster, told the Daily Mail “It is the release of fast-acting adrenaline, produced during short bursts of intense stress, or in this case, fear, which is known to lower the appetite, increase the basal metabolic rate and ultimately burn a higher level of calories."
理查德·麦肯齐博士是威斯敏斯特大学的新陈代谢专家，他告诉《每日邮报》，“在短暂集中的压力下会产生快速作用的肾上腺素，在这种情况下，恐惧能减少食欲，增加基础代谢率，最终消耗更多卡路里。”

The scarier the movie is, the more calories you’ll burn, and researchers surmise that you’ll burn the same amount of calories watching a horror film as you would on a 30 minute walk.
电影越恐怖，就能消耗越多卡路里。研究员推测，看一部恐怖电影消耗的卡路里约等于30分钟走路消耗的卡路里。

 

今日词汇

stimuli['stɪmjʊlaɪ] 

n. （stimulus的复数）刺激

 

Interest rates could fall soon and be a stimulus to the US economy. 
利率可能很快就会降低，从而刺激美国经济。
 

 

At this age, the infant begins to react more to visual stimuli. 
到了这个年龄段，婴儿开始对视觉刺激有了更多的反应。