Alcohol Can Cause Modifications In The Structure And Function Of The Blossoming Brain

Alcohol consumption can cause alterations in the architecture and function of the developing brain, which continues to develop into an individual's mid 20s, and it may have consequences reaching far beyond teenage years.

In adolescence, brain development is defined by remarkable modifications to the brain's architecture, neural connections ("circuitry"), and physiology. These changes in the brain alter everything from emerging sexuality to emotionality and cognitive ability.

Not all parts of the adolescent brain mature at the same time, which may put an adolescent at a disadvantage in specific situations. For example, the limbic regions of the brain develop earlier than the frontal lobes. The limbic areas control feelings and are connected with a juvenile's reduced sensitivity to risk. The frontal lobes are responsible for self-control, judgment, reasoning, analytic skills, and impulse control. Differences in maturation amongst parts of the brain can result in careless decisions or actions and a disregard for consequences.

The way Alcohol Alters the Brain Alcohol alters a juvenile's brain growth in several ways. The results of minor alcohol consumption on specialized brain functions are discussed below. Alcohol is a central nervous system sedative. Alcohol can appear to be a stimulant because, to begin with, it suppresses the part of the brain that manages inhibitions.

CEREBRAL CORTEX-- Alcohol reduces the cortex as it processes information from an individual's senses.

CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM-- When a person thinks of something he wants his body to undertake, the central nervous system-- the brain and the spinal cord-- sends a signal to that part of the body. Alcohol impedes the central nervous system, making the person think, speak, and move slower.

FRONTAL LOBES -- The brain's frontal lobes are essential for planning, creating ideas, making decisions, and using self-control.

Once alcohol affects the frontal lobes of the brain, an individual might find it difficult to manage his/her feelings and urges. The individual might act without thinking or may even become violent. Drinking alcohol over a long period of time can damage the frontal lobes permanently.

HIPPOCAMPUS-- The hippocampus is the portion of the brain in which memories are generated. Once alcohol gets to the hippocampus, an individual might have trouble recalling something she or he just learned, like a person's name or a phone number. This can occur after just one or two alcoholic beverages. Drinking a lot of alcohol rapidly can trigger a blackout-- not being able to recall whole incidents, like what she or he did the night before. If alcohol injures the hippocampus, a person may find it difficult to learn and to hold on to information.

CEREBELLUM-- The cerebellum is important for coordination, ideas, and attention. A person may have difficulty with these skills once alcohol goes into the cerebellum. After consuming alcohol, a person's hands may be so tremulous that they can't touch or take hold of things normally, and they might fail to keep their equilibrium and fall.

HYPOTHALAMUS-- The hypothalamus is a little part of the brain that does a remarkable number of the physical body's housekeeping tasks. Alcohol frustrates the work 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 can trigger an individual's physical body temperature level to drop below normal.

An individual may have trouble with these abilities once alcohol gets in the cerebellum. After consuming alcohol, a person's hands might be so unsteady that they can't touch or get hold of things properly, and they might lose their equilibrium and tumble.

After an individual drinks alcohol, blood pressure, appetite, being thirsty, and the urge to urinate increase while body temperature and heart rate decline.

Alcohol actually chills the physical body. Consuming a lot of alcohol outdoors in cold weather can trigger a person's physical body temperature to fall below normal.

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