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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
Scientists Solve Mystery of Chameleon1 Eyes 科学家们解决变色龙眼睛的奥秘
Chameleons2 can move their eyes in different directions, and most scientists thought that meant that each eye worked independently from the other. Scientists in Israel say they have discovered, however, that chameleons’ eyes are, in fact, highly coordinated3.
Many fish and birds have eyes on opposite sides of the head, and they seemingly have at any given moment two different pictures of the world around them. But chameleons’ eyes are slightly bulging4 so they can focus both eyes on one object or track two different objects with each eye.
The puzzling question was: does one eye know what the other is doing?
Scientists at Haifa University, in Israel, tried to find the answer with the help of a computer screen.
"We found out that each eye has a different role. We have the tracking eye, that will continue tracking the target, and the converging5 eye that will converge6 to the tracking eye, and eventually she will choose that target," said Hadas Ketter-Katz, who is a scientist at the university. "We found out that each eye has a different subtle pattern of eye movements according to her role.”
Split screen
When the picture of an insect projected on the screen was split in two, which then started to move in opposite directions, the chameleon was able to follow both.
But when the animal finally decided7 on one of the targets, its other eye suddenly swiveled back to focus on the same spot. In a split second, it lashed8 out its long tongue at the target. This proved that the second eye knew what the first eye was seeing.
"We assume that the brain controls each eye independently with independent units of eye movements, but there is a higher level of control that can co-ordinate these two. So each eye knows exactly what the other eye sees and vice9 versa,” said Ketter-Katz.
Scientists say new findings may shed new light on research on other, similar animals. It also could find application in the control of mechanical devices — such as robots or self-driving cars — whose video cameras have to focus simultaneously10 on several things.
1 chameleon | |
n.变色龙,蜥蜴;善变之人 | |
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2 chameleons | |
n.变色蜥蜴,变色龙( chameleon的名词复数 ) | |
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3 coordinated | |
adj.协调的 | |
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4 bulging | |
膨胀; 凸出(部); 打气; 折皱 | |
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5 converging | |
adj.收敛[缩]的,会聚的,趋同的v.(线条、运动的物体等)会于一点( converge的现在分词 );(趋于)相似或相同;人或车辆汇集;聚集 | |
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6 converge | |
vi.会合;聚集,集中;(思想、观点等)趋近 | |
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7 decided | |
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 | |
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8 lashed | |
adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 );煽动;紧系;怒斥 | |
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9 vice | |
n.坏事;恶习;[pl.]台钳,老虎钳;adj.副的 | |
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10 simultaneously | |
adv.同时发生地,同时进行地 | |
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