Preston Peeler

How does alcohol affect the nervous system on both a short-term and long-term level?

Started Apr. 28, 2023

Abstract or project description

This paper will discuss both the short and long term effects that alcohol has on the brain. It is important to understand alcohol’s effect on us so we can learn how we are impaired by it and how it can lead to problems later in life. Scientists already know that alcohol is bad for our brain, but this paper will discuss exactly what it is that makes it so bad. Before discussing alcohol’s effects, I will first discuss how the nervous systems work as well as neurons. Then I will talk about the chemicals involved in this process, such as GABA and alcohol. Afterwards, the chemical and behavioral short-term effects of alcohol on the human brain will be analyzed including understanding what hangovers are. Long term consequences will then be discussed such as addiction, tolerance, frontal lobe damage, and long term mental effects. Finally, genes and alcohol will be analyzed as well as if there are any possible ways to recover from alcoholism. This paper will discuss each of these topics by citing prior research, studying how the brain works, and also my own ideas and knowledge about alcohol and alcoholism in my family. In addition, the paper will include data from experiments and my analysis of them. From this paper, I hope to gain a better understanding of alcohol and understand why it is so harmful. I also hope that readers will understand from this research why it is important to understand the implications of alcohol before deciding to drink.