2008 Woodie Awards
RSSBiology of Booze
By Sarah Miller
Issue date: 11/12/07 Section: Lifestyle
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Well, it's about time to add some science to those D.A.R.E. lectures, and keep this in mind while letting loose during Lehigh-Lafayette week.
According to Dr. John Nyby, behavioral neuroscience professor, like all abusive drugs such as heroin, nicotine and marijuana, alcohol activates the reward circuitry in the brain, which is what makes the person consuming the substance feel good.
These initial arousing effects also occur because alcohol inhibits brain areas which in turn inhibit other brain areas. This can lead to temporary deactivation in parts of the brain, Nyby said.
Alcohol depresses the overall activity of the central nervous system that includes the brain and spinal cord, Nyby said.
This occurs because alcohol stimulates the release of the brain's primary inhibitory neurotransmitter, gamma amino butyric acid (GABA).
Since GABA neurons and receptors are located throughout the brain every area is impacted.
"All parts of the brain including those areas that process visual and vestibular, sense of balance, information are affected," Nyby said.
This the causes the blurry vision, stumbling and slurred speech that intoxicated people display.
The brain must make adaptive changes when exposed to alcohol for long periods of time. These changes allow the brain to function and maintain homeostasis, or internal stability, Nyby said.
In order to function in the presence of alcohol, Nyby said the brain creates a new homeostatic set-point.
Once the drinking period ends, this set-point becomes ineffective in maintaining homeostasis and normal brain functioning, Nyby said.
This imbalance is what causes the ever-dreaded hangover after a night of heavy drinking.
Nyby said he knows of no miracle hangover remedy.
"To my knowledge, you just have to ride it out," he said.
In addition to aspirin for headaches, Nyby also said that hangover symptoms may be suppressed by drinking some alcohol during the hangover recovery period.
"But that is simply postponing the recovery of normal brain functioning, and I certainly do not advocate this strategy," he said.
Kevin Meyers, '09, said he will force himself to get up during the night and chug water, to lessen hangover symptoms.
