The Effects of Alcohol on the Brain and Stress Response

🧠Alcohol affects the brain's prefrontal cortical circuits, resulting in sedation and memory impairment.

🍺Alcohol changes the relationship between the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenals, leading to increased stress and cortisol release.

😫Regular alcohol consumption causes heightened stress and anxiety when not drinking.

🔁Changes in neural circuitry make individuals crave more alcohol to restore their stress modulation and mood to baseline.

🥴Chronic alcohol consumption leads to long-term changes in neural and hormone circuitry, making individuals less resilient to stress.

What happens to the brain when we drink alcohol?

—Alcohol affects the prefrontal cortical circuits and memory control circuits, resulting in sedation and impaired memory.

How does alcohol affect the stress response?

—Alcohol changes the relationship between the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenals, leading to increased stress and cortisol release.

Why do regular drinkers experience more stress and anxiety when not drinking?

—Regular alcohol consumption causes changes in neural circuitry, resulting in heightened stress and anxiety when not drinking.

Why do some people crave more alcohol after drinking?

—Changes in neural circuitry make individuals crave more alcohol to restore their stress modulation and mood to baseline.

What are the long-term effects of chronic alcohol consumption?

—Chronic alcohol consumption leads to long-term changes in neural and hormone circuitry, making individuals less resilient to stress.

00:02When people drink, the prefrontal cortical circuits in the brain shut down, leading to sedation and memory impairment.

01:00Alcohol changes the relationship between the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenals, resulting in increased stress and cortisol release.

02:50Regular alcohol consumption leads to heightened stress and anxiety when not drinking.