43-3-184
Peas of mind
Though the way antioxidants work in the brain is not well known, Dr Gomez-Pinilla says it is likely they protect the synaptic membranes. Synapses are the junctions between nerve cells, and their action is central to learning and memory. But they are also, he says, the most fragile parts of the brain. And many of the nutrients associated with brain function are known to affect transmission at the synapses.
An omega-3 fatty acid called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), for example, provides membranes at synaptic regions with 'fluidity'--the capacity to transport signals. It also provides 'plasticity'--a synapse's capacity to change. Such changes are the basis of memory. Since 30% of the fatty constituents of nerve-cell membranes are DHA molecules, keeping your DHA levels topped up is part of having a healthy brain. Indeed, according to the studies reviewed by Dr Gomez-Pinilla, the benefits of omega-3s include improved learning and memory, and resistance to depression and bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, dementia, attention-deficit disorder and dyslexia.
Omega-3s are found in oily fish such as salmon, as well as in walnuts and kiwi fruit, and there is a strong negative correlation between the extent to which a country consumes fish and its levels of clinical depression. On the Japanese island of Okinawa, for example, people have a strikingly low rate of mental disorder--and Okinawans are notable fish eaters, even by the standards of a piscivorous country like Japan. In contrast, many studies suggest that diets which are rich in trans- and saturated fatty acids, such as those containing a lot of deep-fried foods and butter, have bad effects on cognition. Rodents put on such diets show declines in cognitive performance within weeks.

A. 어휘
pea 완두콩. likely ...일 것이다.
synaptic 連接(연접)의. synapse [신경세포의] 연접부. junction 접합, 접속점.
fragile 약한, 망가지기 쉬운. function 기능. transmission 전달.
fatty acid 脂肪酸(지방산). synaptic regions 연접부위. fluidity 流動性(유동성).
capacity 능력. plasticity 可塑性(가소성), 형성력. fatty constituent 지방성분.
molecule 분자. top up 부어서 가득 채우다. benefit 이익, 혜택. depression 우울증.
bipolar [성질이] 양극단의. disorder [심신기능의] 不調(부조), 질병.
schizophrenia 정신분열증. dementia 癡呆(치매).
attention-deficit disorder 주의력결핍증. dyslexia 亂讀症(난독증). salmon 연어.
walnut 호두. negative correlation 마이너스 상관관계. extent 정도.
strikingly 놀라울 만큼, 두드러지게. notable 주목할만한. piscivorous 물고기를 먹는.
saturated 스며든, 흠뻑 젖은, 포화된.

B. 구문
- keeping your DHA . . . a healthy brain
[DHA 수준을 가득히 높이는 것은 건강한 뇌를 유지하는 한 방편이다.]
- Rodents put on such diets→Rodents which are put on such diets
[그러한 식단을 가진 설치류는]

43-4-185
In the past few years, several studies have looked at the effect of adding omega-3s to people's diets--particularly those of children. One such, carried out in the British city of Durham, was controversial in that it was funded by a maker of children's omega-3 supplements and did not include a control group being given a placebo. Despite the publicity this study has received, Ben Goldacre, author of a book called 'Bad Science' that includes an investigation of it, says the results will not be released.
Work by other researchers, however, has suggested such supplements do improve the performance and behaviour of school-age children with specific diagnoses such as dyslexia, attention-deficit disorder and developmental co-ordination disorder. Moreover, although more work is needed to elucidate the effects of omega-3s on healthy school-age children, Dr Gomez-Pinilla says that younger children whose mothers took fish-oil supplements (which contain omega-3s) when they were pregnant and while they were breast-feeding do show better cognitive performance than their unsupplemented contemporaries.
Eating well, then, is one key to a healthy brain. But a word of warning--do not overeat. This puts oxidative stress on the brain and risks undoing all the good work those antioxidants have been up to. For those who would like a little practical guidance, The Economist has some suggestions for dinner (see menu). So why not put the Nintendo brain trainer away tonight, and eat your way to intelligence instead?

A. 어휘
carry out 수행하다. controversial 논쟁의 여지가 있는. fund 자금을 공급하다.
supplements 補充藥劑(보충약제).
control group [약학] 對照群(대조군)[동일 실험에서 실험요건을 가하지 않는 그룹]. placebo 僞藥(위약). despite ...임에도 불구하고. publicity 평판, 선전.
release 발표하다. performance 수행, 성과. behaviour 행동. specific 특별한.
diagnosis 진단, [복수형→diagnoses]. developmental 발육상의. elucidate 밝히다.
breast-feed 모유를 먹이다. contemporary 동년배의 사람, 동시대인. undo 망쳐 놓다.
have been up to 지금까지 해 놓은.

B. 구문
- in that→because, since