Paying over the odds for a ticket to see a film in 3D is the bane of many a cinema-goer's life.
花高價買票看3D電影是許多電影院常客的煩惱之源。

But there may be a benefit to doing so, as a study has claimed that 3D films exercise the brain and improve short-term functioning in a similar way to brain-training tests.
但這樣做可能也會帶來好處。一項研究稱，3D電影可以鍛煉大腦，能像大腦訓練測試那樣提高腦部短時間內的機能。

The research found that people who watched a movie in 3D had improved cognitive skills compared to those who watched it in 2D.
該研究發現，相比那些看2D電影的人來說，觀看3D電影的人認知能力得到了改善。

The research was led by neuroscientist Dr Patrick Fagan from Goldsmiths University in London.
該項研究由倫敦大學金史密斯學院的神經系統科學家帕特里克·費根博士牽頭進行。

More than 100 people took part in the experiment, where participants watched Disney film Big Hero 6 in either standard format or RealD 3D.
100多個人參加了實驗，這些參與者不是觀看了迪斯尼公司出品的標準格式《超能陸戰隊》，就是觀看了RealD 3D的《超能陸戰隊》。

They also carried out a brain-training-style test before and after seeing a segment from the film.
在觀看電影一小段的片段之前和之后，他們還分別進行了類似腦部訓練的測試。

The test covered memory, reaction times and cognitive function, and the results were subsequently compared.
測試內容包括記憶力、反應時間和認知功能的測試，這些測試的結果隨后被用來進行比較。

According to the research, which was carried out in partnership with science group Thrill Laboratory, participants experienced a 23 per cent increase in cognitive processing, as well as an 11 per cent increase in reaction times.
該研究與科學小組興奮實驗室（Thrill Laboratory ）合作進行，發現研究參與者在認知加工能力上提高了23%，反應時間提高11%。

Dr Fagan said that the results showed enough of an improvement in brain function to suggest that 3D could play a part in improving brain power in the future.
費根博士指出，研究結果足以顯示大腦的功能得到了改善，因此在未來，3D可以在改善腦力方面發揮作用。

'These findings are more significant than you might think,' he said.
他說：“這些調查結果比你想象中的還更有意義。”

'It is a fact that people are living longer and there is a noticeable decline in cognitive brain function in old age which can impair future quality of life.
“事實上，如今人們的壽命變得更長了，但在老年的時候，大腦的認知功能有了明顯的下降，這可能使得未來的生活質量也隨之降低。”

'There has never been a better time to look at ways to improve brain function.
“到目前為止，從未有過比這更好的一次機會，能夠研究如何改善大腦功能。”

'The initial results of this study indicate that 3D films may potentially play a role in slowing this decline.'
“這項研究的初步結果表明，3D電影或許可以在減緩這種衰退中發揮作用。”

A second part of the experiment involved those watching the film being fitted with headsets that scanned brain activity and this too showed heightened activity when watching 3D.
實驗的第二部分中，那些觀看電影的參與者都帶上了耳機，可以掃描他們的腦部活動，結果同樣顯示在觀看3D電影時大腦活動加強。

According to the results, participants were seven per cent more engaged with what they were watching, adding to the argument that 3D movies are more like watching real-life - something Professor Brendan Walker from Thrill Laboratory agreed with.
結果顯示，參與者比平時更專注于他們所觀看的電影，專注度增加了7%；支持了3D電影更像觀看真實場景的說法，而來自興奮實驗室的布倫丹·沃克教授也對此表示同意。

'A seven per cent rise in emotional engagement is extremely noteworthy. Watching in 3D gives the viewer such an enriched and quality experience, as these results show,' he said.
“情感投入上增加7%是非常值得注意的一點。正如研究結果顯示的那樣，觀看3D電影會給觀眾帶來這種強化且優質的體驗，”他說道。

'In evolutionary terms, the results of both parts of the test certainly make sense,' Dr Fagan added.
“從進化論的角度來說，兩部分測試的結果當然都是很有意義的，”費根博士補充道。

'As Professor Brendan Walker's test concluded, 3D films are more immersive, heighten the senses and induce emotional arousal - this, in turn, makes the brain run at quicker speeds.'
“正如布倫丹·沃克（Brendan Walker ）教授的測試得出的結論那樣，3D電影更能讓人身臨其境，強化感官感受，引起情感上的共鳴——而這，反過來又能促進大腦快速運行。”

Vocabulary

over the odds：（尤指價格）超過正常的

bane：煩惱之源

neuroscientist：神經系統科學家

英文來源：每日郵報

譯者：FNU徐敏

編輯：齊磊

審校：劉明