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

In adolescence, brain growth is identified by dramatic modifications to the brain's structure, neural connections ("circuitry"), and physiology. These changes in the brain alter everything from emerging sexuality to emotionality and judgment.

Not all parts of the adolescent brain mature at the same time, which might put a juvenile at a disadvantage in certain scenarios. The limbic areas of the brain mature earlier than the frontal lobes.

The way Alcohol Alters the Brain
Alcohol alters a juvenile's brain growth in many ways. The consequences of underage drinking on specific brain functions are summarized below.
Alcohol is a central nervous system sedative drug. Alcohol can seem to be a stimulant because, initially, it suppresses the portion of the human brain that manages inhibitions.

CORTEX-- Alcohol hinders the cerebral cortex as it processes details 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 reduces the central nervous system, making the individual think, communicate, and move slower.

FRONTAL LOBES -- The brain's frontal lobes are very important for advanced planning, forming ideas, decision making, and using self-discipline.

An individual may find it tough to control his or her feelings and urges when alcohol affects the frontal lobes of the brain. The individual might act without thinking or may even get violent. Drinking alcohol over a long period of time can harm the frontal lobes permanently.

HIPPOCAMPUS-- The hippocampus is the part of the brain in which memories are generated.
Once alcohol reaches the hippocampus, a person might have difficulty remembering a thing she or he just learned, such as a name or a phone number. This can occur after just a couple of alcoholic beverages.
Drinking a lot of alcohol quickly can cause a blackout-- not having the ability to recollect whole occurrences, like what exactly she or he did the night before.
If alcohol injures the hippocampus, a person may find it hard to learn and to hang on to information.

CEREBELLUM-- The cerebellum is necessary for coordination, thoughts, and focus. Once alcohol gets in the cerebellum, a person may have trouble with these abilities. After drinking alcohol, an individual's hands may be so shaky that they can't touch or grab things properly, and they may fail to keep their equilibrium and fall.

HYPOTHALAMUS-- The hypothalamus is a small part of the brain that does an incredible number of the body's housekeeping tasks. Alcohol frustrates the work of the hypothalamus. After an individual consumes alcohol, blood pressure, hunger, thirst, and the urge to urinate intensify while body temperature level and heart rate decline.

MEDULLA-- The medulla controls the body's automatic actions, like an individual's heart beat. It likewise keeps the physical body at the ideal temperature level. Alcohol in fact chills the physical body. Drinking a great deal of alcohol outdoors in chilly climates can cause a person's physical body temperature level to fall below its normal level. This dangerous condition is called hypothermia.

A person might have difficulty with these abilities when alcohol gets in the cerebellum. After drinking alcohol, an individual's hands might be so shaky that they can't touch or take hold of things properly, and they may fail to keep their equilibrium and fall.

After a person drinks alcohol, blood pressure, hunger, being thirsty, and the urge to urinate increase while physical body temperature and heart rate decline.

Alcohol actually cools down the physical body. Drinking a lot of alcohol outdoors in cold weather can trigger an individual's body temperature level to drop below normal.