評論
打印
Oftentimes when we cry, we feel a lump in the throat.
很多時候，當我們哭泣時，我們會感到哽咽。
Does alump actually form, or is there some other explanation?
難道是真的在喉嚨中形成了塊狀物？或是有其它的解釋？
The lump-like thing we feel when overcome by emotion has to do with how the nervous systemdeals with stress.
我們被情緒占據時所感受到的結塊一樣的東西與神經系統處理緊張的方式有關。
The part of the nervous system that handles stress is called the autonomicnervous system.
神經系統中處理緊張的部分叫作自主神經系統。
It controls bodily functions that we do not consciously control, such as digestingfood and pumping blood through the heart.
它能控制我們無意識地去控制的一些身體功能，比如消化食物和心臟泵血。
However, the autonomic nervous system is alsoimportant in dealing with emotional states.
但是，自主神經系統卻在處理情緒狀態時非常重要。
When an animal encounters a stressful situation, its autonomic nervous system kicks in to allow itto either fight or run away.
當動物面臨緊張情境時，自主神經系統開始起作用，使動物選擇戰斗或是逃跑。
It does this by increasing the flow of blood and oxygen to thenecessary muscles.
這是通過增加輸送至必要部位肌肉的血流和氧氣來實現的。
The same applies to humans.
同樣的情況也適用于人類。
Even when we experience emotions such asgrief or sorrow, the autonomic nervous system responds as it would to anger or fear by increasingthe flow of oxygen through the body.
即使我們懷揣著悲傷或傷感這類情緒時，自主神經系統也能作出響應，一如它在處理憤怒和恐懼那樣增加全身的氧氣輸送量。
To increase oxygen intake, the autonomic nervous system makes us breath faster, and expandsthe glottis, the opening in the throat that allows air to flow from the larynx to the lungs.
為了增加氧氣的吸入量，自主神經系統促使我們呼吸加快，同時使聲門擴張。
Theexpansion of the glottis in and of itself does not create a lumpy feeling, until we try to swallow.
除非我們進行吞咽動作，不然聲門的擴張本身不會讓我們產生哽咽的感覺。
Since swallowing involves closing the glottis, this works against the muscles that open the glottis inresponse to crying.
因為吞咽涉及到聲門的關閉，這與哭泣時開啟聲門的肌肉響應動作相反。
We experience the resulting muscle tension as a lump in the throat.
這時我們感覺到肌肉緊張，也就是喉中哽咽的感覺。
