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Suppresses excitatory neurotransmitters
Alcohol suppresses the release of excitatory neurotransmitters such as glutamate. Those neurotransmitters are responsible for increasing energy levels and brain activity.
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Increases inhibitory neurotransmitters
Alcohol increases the release of inhibitory neurotransmitters such as GABA. The inhibitory neurotransmitters reduce energy levels and result in a calming effect. This is one reason why some people feel relaxed or even have a hard time moving after drinking.
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It increases dopamine levels
Dopamine is the chemical that results in feelings of excitement and motivation. When Dopamine surges a person gets motivated to seek rewards. This is why some people suddenly become very motivated to talk to others and to socialize after drinking.
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It is depressive
The fact that alcohol slows down the communication between neurotransmitters makes it a depressive substance. Anti-depressants work by enhancing the communication between neurotransmitters; the opposite of what alcohol does. (See How does it feel like to be depressed?)
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Forces the brain into addiction
Because dopamine is a highly addictive substance, especially when the brain gets exposed to high levels of it, the person becomes more dependent on alcohol to regulate his mood or to feel better. Dopamine is also the same chemical released when people consume drugs such as cocaine.
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It slows down the processing of information
Alcohol forces the brain to slow down the processing of the information coming through the senses. This is why people think that alcohol makes them less inhibited, whereas it just makes them slow in noticing what’s going on around them.
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It inhibits the thinking process
Alcohol affects the cerebral cortex, the region in the brain where thought processing happens, in such a case that the person’s thinking process gets inhibited.
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Affects the center of balance
Alcohol affects the cerebellum or the center of balance in the brain in such a way that a person might have a hard time standing or maintaining co-ordination. (See What Does It Feel Like to Be Drunk?)
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Reduces sexual performance
Alcohol depresses the nerve centers in the hypothalamus, the region in the brain responsible for sexual arousal and performance, and as a result sexual drive is increased but sexual performance is decreased.
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Affects the medulla
Alcohol affects the medulla, the area of the brain responsible for automatic functions such as breathing, and as a result the person might breathe slowly and feel sleepy.
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Male brains release more dopamine
Alcohol forces the brains of men to produce more Dopamine than the brains of women. This is why men are more likely to develop alcohol addiction than women. See why some people are addicted to porn.
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Blackouts and memory lapses
Alcohol can produce temporary impairment in memory and blackouts. Depending on the amount, the person can fail to recall details of events or even entire events.
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Long term brain damage
According to research, heavy drinkers may suffer from brain damage over a prolonged period of time. The damage can be a direct result of drinking alcohol or a result of the person’s poor health conditions which also resulted from alcohol.
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Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome
The Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome is a brain disorder that can result from excessive use of alcohol and is a disorder that leads to mental confusion, paralysis of the nerves that move the eyes and difficulty in muscle co-ordination.
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Korsakoff’s psychosis
Korsakoff’s psychosis is a brain disorder that usually most of the people who suffer from Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome develop. This disorder is characterized by having persistent learning and memory problems.
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Reduces the happiness hormone
Long term drinking results in the reduction of serotonin, the happiness hormore. This could lead to increased anxiety, bad moods and eventually depression. See How to release Serotonin naturally.
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Can kill brain cells
According to one theory, the fact that alcohol can easily cross the blood-brain barrier can result in direct damage of brain cells.
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It can affect brain development
When a person drinks at a young age his brain, which is still developing, can develop in a different way. This can result in letting the person develop an impulsive behavior.
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Neuro-inflammation
According to Wikipedia, long term consumption of alcohol can produce a proinflammatory response in the brain.
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