ESS 3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Nucleus Accumbens, Gastrointestinal Bleeding, Sexual Dysfunction
Document Summary
Alcohol causes gaba to lower psychological inhibiions and eventually slow down all of the brain processes. When large amounts of alcohol are consumed, the drinker is at risk for depression of the cns, possible leading to respiratory and cardiac failure, then to passing out, coma, and death. Some clinicians use bac of . 40 as the threshold for alcohol poisoning. When other depressants are used, the danger is greatly increased. 1/3 of drinkers report experiencing at least one blackout. A person acts normally and is conscious but can"t recall anything said or done aterward. When a drinker has parial recall of events, it"s a brownout. Possible indicator is dampening of the p3/p300 brain wave that afects cogniion, decision making, and processing of short-term memory. Most severe many hours ater alcohol has been eliminated from the system. Most severe withdrawal symptoms usually occur with chronic high-dose users.
