Alcohol Consumption Can Trigger Modifications In The Structure And Operation Of The Developing Brain
Alcohol can trigger changes in the architecture and function of the blossoming brain, which continues to grow into a person's mid 20s, and it might have repercussions reaching far beyond adolescence.
In adolescence, brain growth is characterized by dramatic modifications to the brain's architecture, neuron connectivity ("circuitry"), and physiology. These changes in the brain disturb everything from developing sexuality to emotionality and cognitive ability.
Not all component parts of the juvenile brain mature simultaneously, which might put an adolescent at a disadvantage in certain circumstances. The limbic regions of the brain mature earlier than the frontal lobes. The limbic regions regulate feelings and are connected with an adolescent's lowered level of sensitivity to risk. The frontal lobes are responsible for self-control, judgment, reasoning, problem-solving, and impulse control. Differences in maturation among parts of the brain can result in careless choices or actions and a disregard for consequences.
How Alcohol Affects the Brain
Alcohol affects a juvenile's brain development in numerous ways. The results of juvenile drinking on specialized brain functions are detailed below.
Alcohol is a central nervous system sedative. Alcohol can seem to be a stimulant because, before anything else, it depresses the portion of the brain that governs inhibitions.
CEREBRAL CORTEX-- Alcohol hinders the cortex as it works with details from a person's senses.
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM-- When a person thinks about something he desires his body to undertake, the central nervous system-- the brain and the spine-- sends a signal to that portion of the body. Alcohol reduces the central nervous system, making the person think, communicate, and move less quickly.
FRONTAL LOBES -- The brain's frontal lobes are important for planning, creating ideas, decision making, and employing self-control.
Once alcohol impacts the frontal lobes of the brain, a person might find it hard to control his/her emotions and impulses. The person may act without thinking or might even become violent. Consuming alcohol over a long period of time can harm the frontal lobes forever.
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 remembering a thing she or he just learned, like a name or a telephone number. This can occur after just a couple of alcoholic beverages.
Drinking a lot of alcohol quickly can cause a blackout-- not being able to remember whole occurrences, such as what exactly he or she did last night.
If alcohol damages the hippocampus, a person might find it difficult to learn and to hold on to information.
CEREBELLUM-- The cerebellum is important for coordination, ideas, and attention. Once alcohol gets in the cerebellum, an individual may have trouble with these skills. After consuming alcohol, an individual's hands may be so tremulous that they cannot touch or grab things properly, and they may fail to keep their balance and fall.
HYPOTHALAMUS-- The hypothalamus is a small part of the brain that does an incredible number of the physical body's housekeeping tasks. Alcohol upsets the operation of the hypothalamus. After a person drinks alcohol, blood pressure, hunger, being thirsty, and the impulse to urinate increase while physical body temperature and heart rate decline.
Alcohol actually cools down the physical body. Drinking a lot of alcohol outdoors in cold weather can cause an individual's physical body temperature level to drop below normal.
A person might have difficulty with these skills when alcohol goes into the cerebellum. After consuming alcohol, an individual's hands might be so shaky that they can't touch or take hold of things properly, and they might lose their balance and fall.
After an individual drinks alcohol, blood pressure, hunger, thirst, and the urge to urinate increase while body temperature levels and heart rate decrease.
Alcohol in fact cools down the body. Drinking a lot of alcohol outdoors in cold weather conditions can cause a person's body temperature to drop below normal.
In adolescence, brain growth is characterized by dramatic modifications to the brain's architecture, neuron connectivity ("circuitry"), and physiology. These changes in the brain disturb everything from developing sexuality to emotionality and cognitive ability.
Not all component parts of the juvenile brain mature simultaneously, which might put an adolescent at a disadvantage in certain circumstances. The limbic regions of the brain mature earlier than the frontal lobes. The limbic regions regulate feelings and are connected with an adolescent's lowered level of sensitivity to risk. The frontal lobes are responsible for self-control, judgment, reasoning, problem-solving, and impulse control. Differences in maturation among parts of the brain can result in careless choices or actions and a disregard for consequences.
How Alcohol Affects the Brain
Alcohol affects a juvenile's brain development in numerous ways. The results of juvenile drinking on specialized brain functions are detailed below.
Alcohol is a central nervous system sedative. Alcohol can seem to be a stimulant because, before anything else, it depresses the portion of the brain that governs inhibitions.
CEREBRAL CORTEX-- Alcohol hinders the cortex as it works with details from a person's senses.
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM-- When a person thinks about something he desires his body to undertake, the central nervous system-- the brain and the spine-- sends a signal to that portion of the body. Alcohol reduces the central nervous system, making the person think, communicate, and move less quickly.
FRONTAL LOBES -- The brain's frontal lobes are important for planning, creating ideas, decision making, and employing self-control.
Once alcohol impacts the frontal lobes of the brain, a person might find it hard to control his/her emotions and impulses. The person may act without thinking or might even become violent. Consuming alcohol over a long period of time can harm the frontal lobes forever.
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 remembering a thing she or he just learned, like a name or a telephone number. This can occur after just a couple of alcoholic beverages.
Drinking a lot of alcohol quickly can cause a blackout-- not being able to remember whole occurrences, such as what exactly he or she did last night.
If alcohol damages the hippocampus, a person might find it difficult to learn and to hold on to information.
CEREBELLUM-- The cerebellum is important for coordination, ideas, and attention. Once alcohol gets in the cerebellum, an individual may have trouble with these skills. After consuming alcohol, an individual's hands may be so tremulous that they cannot touch or grab things properly, and they may fail to keep their balance and fall.
HYPOTHALAMUS-- The hypothalamus is a small part of the brain that does an incredible number of the physical body's housekeeping tasks. Alcohol upsets the operation of the hypothalamus. After a person drinks alcohol, blood pressure, hunger, being thirsty, and the impulse to urinate increase while physical body temperature and heart rate decline.
Alcohol actually cools down the physical body. Drinking a lot of alcohol outdoors in cold weather can cause an individual's physical body temperature level to drop below normal.
A person might have difficulty with these skills when alcohol goes into the cerebellum. After consuming alcohol, an individual's hands might be so shaky that they can't touch or take hold of things properly, and they might lose their balance and fall.
After an individual drinks alcohol, blood pressure, hunger, thirst, and the urge to urinate increase while body temperature levels and heart rate decrease.
Alcohol in fact cools down the body. Drinking a lot of alcohol outdoors in cold weather conditions can cause a person's body temperature to drop below normal.
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