研究发现：“想象锻炼”亦可健身

A new research study suggests that just thinking of exercising can have the same effects as actually hitting the gym, officials say.

最新研究显示，想象自己在锻炼，也能达到实地健身的效果。

A recent study published in the Journal of Neurophysiology found that simply imagining exercise can tone muscle, delay atrophy, and even make your muscles stronger.

研究发现，想象锻炼可以调节肌肉，延缓其萎缩，甚至可以增强肌肉力量。该研究结果被发表于《神经心理学》（Neurophysiology）杂志上。

Researchers at Ohio University, according to the Breitbart News Network, conducted an experiment using two sets of 'healthy individuals.'

据美国布莱巴特资讯网（Breitbart News Network）报道，俄亥俄州大学（Ohio University）的研究人员对两组“健康个体”进行了实验。

The researchers wrapped the wrists of one of the sets in a cast and gave them instructions to sit still for 11 minutes, five days a week, for four weeks, and 'perform mental imagery of strong muscle contractions,' -- or, imagine exercising.

研究人员在其中一组实验者的手腕上绑上测量仪，并要求他们每天静坐11分钟，每周五天，连续四周。实验者们要利用这段时间“进行肌肉收缩的心理意象”，即想象锻炼。

The other set were not given any instruction.

另一组实验者则不给予任何想象锻炼。

The results illustrated that the body and mind are more intertwined than we though.

实验结果表明，人的身、心比我们原本所知的更为交错复杂。

At the end of the four weeks, the participants who engaged in the 'mental exercise' were twice as strong as those who didn't, Breitbart reports.

布莱巴特的报道指出，经过四周之后，接受过“思维训练”的人比没有接受的人强壮两倍。

Additionally, those participants had a stronger brain because the exercises created stronger neuromuscular pathways.

此外，那些受过想象锻炼的人头脑更为强健，因为这样的训练可以增强神经肌肉的通路。

Scientists have long known the connections between the brain's cortex and its ability to control and coordinate muscle movement, according to Ohio University's Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine.

俄亥俄州大学传统骨科医学院（Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine）表示，科学家们早已知道大脑皮层和其协调肌肉运动的能力有关联。

Exercising imagery techniques are even commonly used by professional athletes to improve performance.

想象锻炼甚至经常被用于提高职业运动员的比赛成绩。

However, the University's study is the first to prove that the imagery can delay or stop muscle atrophy.

然而，该大学的研究首次证明了想象锻炼可以延缓或阻止肌肉萎缩。

'What our study suggests is that imagery exercises could be a valuable tool to prevent or slow muscles from becoming weaker when a health problem limits or restricts a person’s mobility,' Brian Clark, a professor of physiology and neuroscience in the college said in a statement, according to Breitbart.

布莱恩·克拉克（Brian Clark）是生理学和神经学的大学教授，他说：“我们的研究表明，当一个人出现健康问题或行动受阻时，想象锻炼可以有效防止或减缓肌肉的衰退。”

With the new developments, imagery can be used to help people undergoing neurorehabilitation and can help control the effects of aging.

通过进一步研究，想象锻炼可以帮助人们进行神经康复治疗，还能控制衰老的影响。

In the release, Clark described muscles as the puppets of the nervous system moved by the brain that acts as the string.

克拉克在实验报告中描述到，肌肉就像神经系统的木偶，而大脑就是操纵它的线。

'This information may fundamentally change how we think about muscle weakness in the elderly,' Clark said.

他说：“这些信息可以从根本上改变我们对老年人肌肉无力的看法。”