如何令小朋友更聰明

How to make kids smarter

大腦是一個潛能無限的器官，越年輕的大腦可塑性越強，及早培養和啟發大腦潛能，對兒童日後的發展有著深遠的意義。兒童透過五感----視覺、聽覺、嗅覺、觸覺、味覺對陌生的世界進行探索，大腦負責分析和記憶這些資訊。來自五感的刺激，是腦部成長的關鍵，促使腦部的神經突觸發展。透過足夠的刺激，這些神經突觸互相形成連線，有利思維的發展和訊息的傳遞。

The brain is an organ of infinite potential. The younger the brain, the stronger the learning ability of the brain. Early training and inspiration of brain potential has far-reaching significance of the brain development in children. Children explore the strange world through five senses ---- sight, hearing, smelling, touching and tasting, while the brain is responsible for memorizing and analyzing these information. Stimulation from these five senses in turn affects the development of the brain, which also promote the synapse development in nervous system. With adequate stimulation, these synaptic activities are favorable for the development of thinking and messaging in nervous systems.

為了從小培養孩子的智力發展，不少家長由選奶粉開始，已經積極關注有益腦部發展的營養成份了。在眾多的營養成份當中，DHA比較受家長關注。DHA屬於奧米加3系(Omega 3)的不飽和脂肪酸，是腦部、視網膜和神經系統的主要成分。及早補充DHA能確保由胎兒開始，神經系統就有足夠的建構物料，有助腦部和視力的健全發展。

In order to promote children's intellectual development, many parents begin to explore nutritional benefits for brain development as early as infant formula. Among the many nutrients, DHA receives the most parental attention. DHA is also known as omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, is the main component of the brain, retina and nervous system. Early supplementation of DHA since pregnancy can ensure that the fetus has enough construction materials for healthy development of the brain and vision.

但DHA這種脂肪酸不能由我們身體自行合成，所以必須從食物中攝取。DHA的來源可分為植物性和動物性兩種，植物性的DHA主要來自深海海藻類；而三文魚、沙甸魚、吞拿魚等深海魚都是動物性DHA的豐富來源，兒童可多攝取這類食物，補充大腦和視力發展的必需營養。

Researchers used Stroop effect and Spatial Memory Test to study children's cognitive ability and brain function. They pointed out that after supplementation of omega 3 fatty acids, the brain worked less hard to transmit the message. Therefore the learning process of children could be smoother, whose cognitive ability could be greatly enhanced.

有研究員利用斯特魯普效應(Stroop Effect)以及空間記憶（Spatial Memory）測試，來研究孩童補充DHA後的認知能力和腦部功能活躍能力。研究員指出，給孩童補充DHA，腦部便不需要在缺乏這些必需成份的情況下“辛苦地”傳遞訊息，從而令學習過程更流暢，對認知能力有大大提升的作用。

Researchers used Stroop effect and Spatial Memory Test to study children's cognitive ability and brain function. They pointed out that after supplementation of omega 3 fatty acids, the brain worked less hard to transmit the message. Therefore the learning process of children could be smoother, whose cognitive ability could be greatly enhanced.