Alcohol Consumption Can Trigger Changes In The Architecture And Operation Of The Developing Brain
Alcohol can trigger changes in the structure and function of the developing brain, which continues to grow into a person's mid 20s, and it may have repercussions reaching far beyond adolescence.
In adolescence, brain growth is characterized by remarkable changes to the brain's architecture, neuron connectivity ("circuitry"), and physiology. These transformations in the brain affect everything from developing sexuality to emotions and cognitive ability.
Not all parts of the juvenile brain mature at the same time, which might put a youth at a disadvantage in particular scenarios. For example, the limbic areas of the brain develop earlier than the frontal lobes. The limbic regions regulate feelings and are related to an adolescent's reduced sensitivity to risk. The frontal lobes are responsible for self-control, judgment, reasoning, problem-solving, and impulse control. Variations in maturation among parts of the brain can lead to careless decisions or acts and a disregard for repercussions.
How Alcohol Disturbs the Brain
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Alcohol affects a juvenile's brain development in several ways. The repercussions of underage drinking on specific brain functions are summarized below.
Alcohol is a central nervous system sedative. Alcohol can seem to be a stimulant because, initially, it depresses the part of the human brain that manages inhibitions.
CEREBRAL CORTEX-- Alcohol hinders the cerebral cortex as it processes information from an individual's senses.
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM-- When a person thinks of something he wants his body to do, the central nervous system-- the brain and the spine-- sends out a signal to that portion of the body. Alcohol reduces the central nervous system, making the individual think, speak, and move more slowly.
FRONTAL LOBES -- The brain's frontal lobes are important for advanced planning, forming ideas, decision making, and exercising self-discipline.
Once alcohol affects the frontal lobes of the human brain, an individual might find it difficult to control his/her feelings and urges. The individual may act without thinking or may even get violent. Consuming alcohol over a long period of time can harm the frontal lobes permanently.
HIPPOCAMPUS-- The hippocampus is the part of the human brain where memories are made.
When alcohol gets to the hippocampus, a person may have trouble recollecting something she or he just learned, like a name or a phone number. This can take place after just one or two alcoholic beverages.
Drinking a lot of alcohol quickly can cause a blackout-- not having the ability to remember entire events, like what exactly he or she did the night before.
If alcohol harms the hippocampus, an individual might find it difficult to learn and to hold on to knowledge.
CEREBELLUM-- The cerebellum is important for coordination, to form thoughts, and focus. Once alcohol enters the cerebellum, an individual may have trouble with these abilities. After drinking alcohol, an individual's hands might be so tremulous that they can't touch or take hold of things normally, and they might lose their balance and fall.
HYPOTHALAMUS-- The hypothalamus is a small part of the brain that does an amazing number of the body's housekeeping chores. Alcohol frustrates the work of the hypothalamus. After a person drinks alcohol, blood pressure, appetite, thirst, and the urge to urinate intensify while body temperature and heart rate decline.
Alcohol actually chills the body. Drinking a lot of alcohol outdoors in cold weather can trigger a person's physical body temperature level to drop below normal.
An individual may have trouble with these skills when alcohol enters the cerebellum. After consuming alcohol, a person's hands might be so unsteady that they can't touch or take hold of things normally, and they may lose their equilibrium and fall.
After an individual alcoholic beverages alcohol, blood pressure, appetite, thirst, and the desire to urinate increase while body temperature levels and heart rate decline.
Alcohol in fact cools down the physical body. Consuming a lot of alcohol outdoors in cold weather can trigger an individual's body temperature level to fall below normal.
In adolescence, brain growth is characterized by remarkable changes to the brain's architecture, neuron connectivity ("circuitry"), and physiology. These transformations in the brain affect everything from developing sexuality to emotions and cognitive ability.
Not all parts of the juvenile brain mature at the same time, which might put a youth at a disadvantage in particular scenarios. For example, the limbic areas of the brain develop earlier than the frontal lobes. The limbic regions regulate feelings and are related to an adolescent's reduced sensitivity to risk. The frontal lobes are responsible for self-control, judgment, reasoning, problem-solving, and impulse control. Variations in maturation among parts of the brain can lead to careless decisions or acts and a disregard for repercussions.
How Alcohol Disturbs the Brain
alcoholic mother quotes
Alcohol affects a juvenile's brain development in several ways. The repercussions of underage drinking on specific brain functions are summarized below.
Alcohol is a central nervous system sedative. Alcohol can seem to be a stimulant because, initially, it depresses the part of the human brain that manages inhibitions.
CEREBRAL CORTEX-- Alcohol hinders the cerebral cortex as it processes information from an individual's senses.
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM-- When a person thinks of something he wants his body to do, the central nervous system-- the brain and the spine-- sends out a signal to that portion of the body. Alcohol reduces the central nervous system, making the individual think, speak, and move more slowly.
FRONTAL LOBES -- The brain's frontal lobes are important for advanced planning, forming ideas, decision making, and exercising self-discipline.
Once alcohol affects the frontal lobes of the human brain, an individual might find it difficult to control his/her feelings and urges. The individual may act without thinking or may even get violent. Consuming alcohol over a long period of time can harm the frontal lobes permanently.
HIPPOCAMPUS-- The hippocampus is the part of the human brain where memories are made.
When alcohol gets to the hippocampus, a person may have trouble recollecting something she or he just learned, like a name or a phone number. This can take place after just one or two alcoholic beverages.
Drinking a lot of alcohol quickly can cause a blackout-- not having the ability to remember entire events, like what exactly he or she did the night before.
If alcohol harms the hippocampus, an individual might find it difficult to learn and to hold on to knowledge.
CEREBELLUM-- The cerebellum is important for coordination, to form thoughts, and focus. Once alcohol enters the cerebellum, an individual may have trouble with these abilities. After drinking alcohol, an individual's hands might be so tremulous that they can't touch or take hold of things normally, and they might lose their balance and fall.
HYPOTHALAMUS-- The hypothalamus is a small part of the brain that does an amazing number of the body's housekeeping chores. Alcohol frustrates the work of the hypothalamus. After a person drinks alcohol, blood pressure, appetite, thirst, and the urge to urinate intensify while body temperature and heart rate decline.
Alcohol actually chills the body. Drinking a lot of alcohol outdoors in cold weather can trigger a person's physical body temperature level to drop below normal.
An individual may have trouble with these skills when alcohol enters the cerebellum. After consuming alcohol, a person's hands might be so unsteady that they can't touch or take hold of things normally, and they may lose their equilibrium and fall.
After an individual alcoholic beverages alcohol, blood pressure, appetite, thirst, and the desire to urinate increase while body temperature levels and heart rate decline.
Alcohol in fact cools down the physical body. Consuming a lot of alcohol outdoors in cold weather can trigger an individual's body temperature level to fall below normal.
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