Alcohol Can Trigger Modifications In The Architecture And Operation Of The Growing Brain

Alcohol consumption can cause modifications in the architecture and operation of the growing brain, which continues to develop into an individual's mid 20s, and it may have repercussions reaching far beyond adolescence.

In adolescence, brain growth is defined by dramatic modifications to the brain's structure, neural connections ("electrical wiring"), and physiology. These changes in the brain affect everything from emerging sexuality to emotions and cognitive ability.

Not all component parts of the adolescent brain mature at the same time, which might put a juvenile at a disadvantage in certain circumstances. The limbic areas of the brain mature earlier than the frontal lobes. The limbic areas control feelings and are related to a juvenile's reduced level of sensitivity to risk. The frontal lobes are responsible for self-regulation, judgment, reasoning, problem-solving, and impulse control. Differences in maturation amongst parts of the brain can lead to careless decisions or actions and a neglect for repercussions.

Ways Alcohol Disturbs the Brain Alcohol alters an adolescent's brain growth in many ways. The effects of adolescent drinking on particular 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 human brain that regulates inhibitions.

CORTEX-- Alcohol hinders the cerebral cortex as it works with information from a person'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 spinal cord-- sends out a signal to that part of the body. Alcohol hinders the central nervous system, making the individual think, communicate, and move less quickly.

FRONTAL LOBES -- The human brain's frontal lobes are very important for planning, creating ideas, making decisions, and employing self-discipline.

Once alcohol impacts the frontal lobes of the human brain, a person might find it difficult to control his or her emotions and urges. The person might act without thinking or might even get violent. Consuming alcohol over an extended period of time can harm the frontal lobes permanently.

HIPPOCAMPUS-- The hippocampus is the portion of the brain in which memories are created. When alcohol gets to the hippocampus, an individual might have difficulty recalling something he or she just learned, like a person's name or a telephone number. This can happen after just a couple of alcoholic beverages. Drinking a lot of alcohol quickly can trigger a blackout-- not having the ability to recall entire happenings, such as what exactly he or she did last night. If alcohol harms the hippocampus, a person may find it difficult to learn and to hang on to knowledge.

CEREBELLUM-- The cerebellum is essential for coordination, to form thoughts, and focus. An individual might have trouble with these skills when alcohol goes into the cerebellum. After drinking alcohol, a person's hands may be so unsteady that they cannot touch or get hold of things properly, and they might lose their balance and tumble.

HYPOTHALAMUS-- The hypothalamus is a small part of the brain that does an amazing variety of the physical body's housekeeping chores. Alcohol upsets the work of the hypothalamus. After a person drinks alcohol, blood pressure, appetite, thirst, and the impulse to urinate intensify while body temperature level and heart rate decrease.

MEDULLA-- The medulla controls the physical body's unconscious actions, like an individual's heart beat. It also keeps the body at the right temperature. Alcohol really chills the body. Consuming a lot of alcohol outdoors in chilly climates can trigger a person's body temperature to drop below normal. This hazardous situation is knowned as hypothermia.

A person might have difficulty with these abilities when alcohol goes into the cerebellum. After consuming alcohol, a person's hands may be so unsteady that they cannot touch or grab things normally, and they may fail to keep their equilibrium and fall.

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

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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 fall below normal.

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