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Cerebral Cortex
The outer surface of the brain, the cerebral cortex works with information from your senses.
Your cerebral cortex on alcohol:
- Your inhibitions are lowered due to alcohol’s depressing effect. A small amount may make you feel relaxed and confident; but, before long, you’re likely to talk too much, act silly and stupid, or lose judgment.
- Slows down the cerebral cortex.
- Your vision may get blurry; you may slur your words; and, you could have decreased hearing and trouble smelling and tasting.
Central Nervous System
When you think of something you want your body to do, the central nervous system — the brain and the spinal cord — sends a signal to that part of the body.
Your central nervous system on alcohol:
- Alcohol slows down the central nervous system.
- You will think, speak, and move slower.
Frontal Lobes
The brain’s frontal lobes are important for planning, forming ideas, making decisions, and using self-control. Drinking alcohol over a long period of time can damage the frontal lobes forever.
Your frontal lobes on alcohol:
- You may find it hard to control urges.
- You may become violent or act without thinking.
Hippocampus
Your memories are made in the hippocampus. A damaged hippocampus makes it harder to learn and hold on to knowledge.
Your hippocampus on alcohol:
- You may have trouble remembering something you just learned (a name, phone number). This can happen after just one or two drinks.
- You could experience a blackout — not being able to remember entire events, such as what you did last night — from drinking a lot of alcohol quickly.
Cerebellum
The cerebellum is important for coordination, thinking, and being aware.
Your cerebellum on alcohol:
- Your hands may be so shaky that you can’t touch or grab things normally.
- You may lose your balance and fall.
- You may not know where you are.
Hypothalamus
The hypothalamus is a small part of the brain that does an amazing number of your body’s housekeeping chores. Alcohol upsets the hypothalamus’s work.
Your hypothalamus on alcohol:
- Blood pressure, hunger, thirst, and the urge to urinate increase.
- Body temperature and heart rate decrease.
Medulla
The medulla is your body’s automatic pilot. It keeps your heart beating, lets you breathe without thinking about it, and keeps your body at the right temperature. People drink alcohol sometimes to keep warm. Drinking alcohol can seem like it makes you warmer, but actually alcohol chills the body. Drinking a lot of alcohol outdoors in cold weather can cause your body temperature to fall below normal. This dangerous condition is called hypothermia.
Your medulla on alcohol:
- Breathing and heart rate slows.
- Your temperature lowers.
- Drinking a lot of alcohol in a short time could shut down the medulla. You could go into a coma.
Related Links
The Brain: Understanding Neurobiology Through the Study of Addiction
NIH Curriculum Supplement Series:
Grades 9-12
Curriculum and CD available to order free
http://science.education.nih.gov
Bringing the Power of Science to Bear on Drug Abuse and Addiction
Slide Teaching Packet V for teachers and health practitioners
http://www.nida.nih.gov/pubs/teaching/
How Stuff Works
http://science.howstuffworks.com/alcohol.htm
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/
National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens
http://teens.drugabuse.gov
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