by Cynthia Wells

Created on: April 28, 2008

After years of solid scientific study, there is little debate that alcohol has an intense negative effect on the brain while at the same time, at least in the beginning, make a person feel relaxed and uninhibited. While alcohol in moderation can be beneficial and indeed relaxing, excessive consumption can be dangerous or deadly. Immediate impaired judgment is more or less noticeable depending on blood alcohol concentration (BAC). The more elevated the more dramatic the disorientation.

Alcohol affects the cerebellum and frontal lobe, which effects coordination and cognitive skills. Even small amounts of alcohol can have deadly consequences due in part to decisions made while drinking. The most apparent of course is the decision to drive. However, there are other critical decisions that are made while alcohol is consumed.

When coordination is impaired by alcohol the effects can include slow reflexes, difficulty walking, hand to eye-coordination and nervous movements. Motor skills that normally require little thought suddenly become difficult to perform. A walk to another room may be challenging and unsuccessful. Steering a car becomes complicated because of eye-hand coordination impairment, inhibited motor skills and impaired judgments.

When cognitive skills are affected by alcohol there is often an initial feeling of euphoria and uninhibited thinking. This is due to the effect of alcohol on dopamine, the reward part of the brain, which may cause a false sense of well-being. Increased serotonin also causes a rewarding, intoxicating effect. This is a strong misconception and deception for the drinker. Alcohol is first a depressant, which is evident by slow brain activity and confusion. Judgment is quickly impaired within the information process of the brain. Aggression, alternating mood swings, anxiety and depression combined causes distorted judgments.

Effects of alcohol on brain activity also produce long reaching consequences that impinge on social, business and interpersonal relationships. A blackout for instance happens when the drinker suffers short-term amnesia, they are unable to recall conversations and actions. A decision made during this time is quickly forgotten. Blackouts does not mean passing out, the drinker is awoke but incoherent.

In addition irreversible damage can be debilitating even when alcohol is no longer consumed. These consequences may include mental confusion, easily frustrated, difficulty with coordination, and actual shrinking of brain mass.

Drinking in moderation is thought to have some health benefits. Moderation is considered one drink for women and two drinks for men per day. Moderation drinking should also be monitored if it becomes evident of binge drinking, four to five drinks per day.

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