Alcohol Consumption Can Cause Changes In The Structure And Function Of The Blossoming Brain
Alcohol can cause changes in the architecture and operation of the blossoming brain, which continues to grow into an individual's mid 20s, and it may have consequences reaching far beyond teenage years.
In adolescence, brain growth is identified by dramatic changes to the brain's structure, neuron connectivity ("electrical wiring"), and physiology. These transformations in the brain disturb everything from emerging sexuality to emotionality and cognitive ability.
Not all component parts of the juvenile brain mature simultaneously, which may put a youth at a disadvantage in specific scenarios. For example, the limbic regions of the brain develop quicker than the frontal lobes. The limbic regions manage feelings and are associated with an adolescent's lowered level of sensitivity to risk. The frontal lobes are accountable for self-regulation, judgment, reasoning, analytic skills, and impulse control. Differences in maturation among parts of the brain can lead to careless choices or acts and a disregard for consequences.
How Alcohol Affects the Brain
Alcohol alters an adolescent's brain development in several ways. The effects of minor alcohol consumption on particular brain functions are explained below.
Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. Alcohol can seem to be a stimulant because, to begin with, it depresses the portion of the human brain that manages inhibitions.
CORTEX-- Alcohol hampers the cortex as it processes information from a person's senses.
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM-- When an individual thinks about something he desires his body to do, the central nervous system-- the brain and the spinal cord-- sends a signal to that portion of the physical body. Alcohol impedes the central nervous system, making the person think, speak, and move less quickly.
FRONTAL alcoholism -- The brain's frontal lobes are important for organizing, creating ideas, making decisions, and employing self-control.
When alcohol impairs the frontal lobes of the brain, a person may find it hard to control his/her emotions and impulses. The individual may act without thinking or may even get violent. Consuming alcohol over a long period of time can injure the frontal lobes permanently.
HIPPOCAMPUS-- The hippocampus is the portion of the brain where memories are created.
When alcohol reaches the hippocampus, an individual may have difficulty recalling something she or he just learned, such as a person's name or a phone number. This can happen after just one or two alcoholic beverages.
Drinking a lot of alcohol quickly can trigger a blackout-- not being able to recollect entire occurrences, such as what she or he did the night before.
If alcohol injures the hippocampus, an individual may find it difficult to learn and to hold on to knowledge.
CEREBELLUM-- The cerebellum is essential for coordination, to form thoughts, and awareness. Once alcohol gets in the cerebellum, a person might have difficulty with these skills. After drinking alcohol, an individual's hands might be so tremulous that they cannot touch or get hold of things normally, and they might fail to keep their balance and fall.
HYPOTHALAMUS-- The hypothalamus is a little part of the brain that does a fantastic number of the body's housekeeping tasks. Alcohol frustrates the operation of the hypothalamus. After a person consumes alcohol, blood pressure, hunger, being thirsty, and the impulse to urinate increase while body temperature and heart rate decrease.
Alcohol in fact chills the body. Drinking a lot of alcohol outdoors in cold weather conditions can trigger an individual's body temperature to fall below normal.
An individual might have difficulty with these skills once alcohol goes into the cerebellum. After drinking alcohol, an individual's hands might be so shaky that they cannot touch or grab things properly, and they might fail to keep their equilibrium and tumble.
After an individual alcoholic beverages alcohol, blood pressure, appetite, thirst, and the urge to urinate increase while body temperature levels and heart rate decrease.
Alcohol in fact chills the physical body. Drinking a lot of alcohol outdoors in cold weather can cause an individual's body temperature to fall below normal.
In adolescence, brain growth is identified by dramatic changes to the brain's structure, neuron connectivity ("electrical wiring"), and physiology. These transformations in the brain disturb everything from emerging sexuality to emotionality and cognitive ability.
Not all component parts of the juvenile brain mature simultaneously, which may put a youth at a disadvantage in specific scenarios. For example, the limbic regions of the brain develop quicker than the frontal lobes. The limbic regions manage feelings and are associated with an adolescent's lowered level of sensitivity to risk. The frontal lobes are accountable for self-regulation, judgment, reasoning, analytic skills, and impulse control. Differences in maturation among parts of the brain can lead to careless choices or acts and a disregard for consequences.
How Alcohol Affects the Brain
Alcohol alters an adolescent's brain development in several ways. The effects of minor alcohol consumption on particular brain functions are explained below.
Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. Alcohol can seem to be a stimulant because, to begin with, it depresses the portion of the human brain that manages inhibitions.
CORTEX-- Alcohol hampers the cortex as it processes information from a person's senses.
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM-- When an individual thinks about something he desires his body to do, the central nervous system-- the brain and the spinal cord-- sends a signal to that portion of the physical body. Alcohol impedes the central nervous system, making the person think, speak, and move less quickly.
FRONTAL alcoholism -- The brain's frontal lobes are important for organizing, creating ideas, making decisions, and employing self-control.
When alcohol impairs the frontal lobes of the brain, a person may find it hard to control his/her emotions and impulses. The individual may act without thinking or may even get violent. Consuming alcohol over a long period of time can injure the frontal lobes permanently.
HIPPOCAMPUS-- The hippocampus is the portion of the brain where memories are created.
When alcohol reaches the hippocampus, an individual may have difficulty recalling something she or he just learned, such as a person's name or a phone number. This can happen after just one or two alcoholic beverages.
Drinking a lot of alcohol quickly can trigger a blackout-- not being able to recollect entire occurrences, such as what she or he did the night before.
If alcohol injures the hippocampus, an individual may find it difficult to learn and to hold on to knowledge.
CEREBELLUM-- The cerebellum is essential for coordination, to form thoughts, and awareness. Once alcohol gets in the cerebellum, a person might have difficulty with these skills. After drinking alcohol, an individual's hands might be so tremulous that they cannot touch or get hold of things normally, and they might fail to keep their balance and fall.
HYPOTHALAMUS-- The hypothalamus is a little part of the brain that does a fantastic number of the body's housekeeping tasks. Alcohol frustrates the operation of the hypothalamus. After a person consumes alcohol, blood pressure, hunger, being thirsty, and the impulse to urinate increase while body temperature and heart rate decrease.
Alcohol in fact chills the body. Drinking a lot of alcohol outdoors in cold weather conditions can trigger an individual's body temperature to fall below normal.
An individual might have difficulty with these skills once alcohol goes into the cerebellum. After drinking alcohol, an individual's hands might be so shaky that they cannot touch or grab things properly, and they might fail to keep their equilibrium and tumble.
After an individual alcoholic beverages alcohol, blood pressure, appetite, thirst, and the urge to urinate increase while body temperature levels and heart rate decrease.
Alcohol in fact chills the physical body. Drinking a lot of alcohol outdoors in cold weather can cause an individual's body temperature to fall below normal.
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