A pill that keeps stress at bay could be on the horizon after scientists worked out the brain chemistry that turns a healthy dose of fear into overwhelming anxiety or depression.
当科学家找出使恐惧变成无法抗拒的焦虑或沮丧的脑部化学物质后，对抗压力的药即将问世。
The breakthrough by researchers at Leicester University could lead to pills that quash such stress-related conditions before they arise.
莱斯特大学研究人员的该项突破性进展导致该药问世前就阻碍了跟压力有关的情况。
This would be different from anti-depressants, which are prescribed after a person’s health deteriorates.
这跟抗抑郁剂不同，它们是用来治疗人的健康恶化问题。
Treatments which might work when existing drugs fail could also be developed.
当现有的药物再进行研制，治疗可能就有效。
The research was inspired by the observation that while most of us experience traumatic events from bereavements to broken hearts, only some people descend into depression or other stress-associated psychiatric disorders.
这项研究是由于观察到大部分人经历过如亲人死亡这种令人不快的事到伤心绝望，但只有一些人陷入绝望或其他跟压力有关的精神疾病而得到的启发。
Experiments detailed in the journal Nature flagged up a protein called neuropsin, which is made in the amygdala, the brain’s ‘fear centre’.
该实验详细说明《自然》杂志中提出的一种叫做neuropsin的蛋白质，它是在大脑“恐惧中心”扁桃体中产生的。
In times of stress, the brain makes more neuropsin and this triggers a series of chemical reactions that culminate in a ‘fear gene’ being switched on – and feelings of anxiety.
受到压力的时候，大脑产生更多的neuropsin，引起一系列的化学反应，而以“恐惧基因”的产生——和感到焦虑告终。
Blocking the protein in mice stopped them displaying anxiety in stressful situations. The researchers are optimistic that the protein also affects how the human brain copes with life’s troubles.
阻止老鼠摄入蛋白质会阻止它们受到压力情况下焦虑的表现。研究人员乐观表示，蛋白质同样影响着人们大脑如何处理生活难题。
Dr Pawlak said: ‘Studies in mice revealed that upon feeling stressed, they stayed away from zones in a maze where they felt unsafe.
Pswlak博士说：“对老鼠的研究发现，感到压力时，它们远离迷宫地带，因为它们觉得那里不安全。”
(恒星英语学习网原创编译,转载请注明出处!)‘These were open and illuminated spaces they avoid when they are anxious.
“当它们感到焦虑时逃避的都是宽敞明亮的地方。”
‘However, when the proteins produced by the amygdala were blocked the mice did not exhibit the same trait.
“然而，当扁桃体产生的蛋白质受到阻碍，老鼠也表现出不同的性格特征。”
‘The behavioural consequences of stress were no longer present.
“压力引起的行为结果不再展示出来了。”
‘We conclude that the activity of neuropsin and its partners may determine vulnerability to stress.’
“我们总结出，neuropsin和同伴的活跃性决定压力的易损性。”
Although the experiments were in mice, the researchers are optimistic that the protein also affects how the human brain copes with life’s troubles.
尽管这些实验是用在老鼠身上，但是研究人员乐观认为，蛋白质同样影响人们大脑如何处理生活难题。
Dr Pawlak cautioned that much more research is necessary but added: ‘We are tremendously excited by these findings.
Pawlak博士警告说还需进行更多研究，不过他还称：“我们对这些结果非常高兴。”
(恒星英语学习网原创编译,转载请注明出处!)