四、閱讀測驗【請依照段落上下文意，選出最適當的答案】
It can be argued that music is a core function in our brains. Our brains are wired from the beginning to process
and understand music. Yet music has always been sort of a mystery, especially since it’s not typically considered
“necessary” for survival. That is reserved for the trifecta of food, sex, and sleep.
A study came out this month that adds another important piece of information as we continue to figure out
how our brain processes music. When we satisfy our desire to eat, sleep, or reproduce, our brain releases
dopamine — the “feel-good” neurochemical involved when we experience pleasure and reward. It turns out this
same chemical is released when listening to music.
A study was conducted by researchers at McGill University in Canada. The researchers used a combination of
PET (positron emission tomography) and fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imagining) techniques to scan the
brains of the eight participants as they listened to music over the course of three sessions. In addition, the
participants completed a questionnaire in which they rated how pleasurable they found the music.
It turns out that when we anticipate and then actually experience a pleasurable response while listening to
music, our brain reacts in distinct and specific ways to release the “feel-good” chemical dopamine.
From an academic standpoint, this is a fascinating study. According to the researchers, this may be the first
study to show that an abstract reward, such as listening to music, releases dopamine. We’ve traditionally considered
abstract rewards to be processed on a more cognitive level, but this study shows that our ancient reward circuits can
be involved.
Additionally, it points to a shared neural network involving tangible and abstract rewards. We already know
that skills such as speech production use shared neural networks to those used to sing. This study shows the shared
neural circuitry involving how our reward circuits process both tangible and abstract rewards.
From a practical standpoint, this will not affect your average day-to-day listening. Just know that when you
experience an emotion while listening to music, your ancient reward circuits are flooding your brain with a
chemical designed to make you feel good.
【題組】49. According to the article, which of the following is NOT true about dopamine?
(A) It is also known to be the “feel-good” neurochemical.
(B) It shares neural networks with speech production and singing.
(C) It was traditionally thought to be related to food, sex, and sleep.
(D) It is evoked when we anticipate and experience pleasurable music.
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