BEHS 364 Alcohol in the United States Exam Questions and Answers Fully Solved
neurons - Answers multiple brain systems communicate with each other through about a trillion tiny
nerve cells called neurons
-translate information into electrical and chemical signals the brain can understand.
-send messages from the brain to the rest of the body
neurotransmitters - Answers carry messages between the neurons.
-can be very powerful
-depending on the type and amount of neurotransmitter, these chemicals can either intensify or
minimize your body's responses, feelings, and mood.
-alcohol can slow the pace of communication between neurotransmitters in the brain. this may cause
you to feel very drowsy
-can trigger mood and behavioral changes, including depression, agitation, memory loss, and seizures.
brain imaging - Answers Various imaging tools, including structural magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), diffusion tensor
imaging (DTI), and positron emission tomography (PET), are used to create pictures
of the brain. All of these imaging techniques are useful to track changes in the
alcoholic brain. For example, they can show how an alcoholic brain changes
immediately after drinking stops, and again after a long period of sobriety, to check
for possible relapses.
psychological tests - Answers Researchers also use psychological tests to evaluate how
alcohol related brain changes affect mental functioning. These tests demonstrate how
alcohol affects emotions and personality, as well as how it compromises learning and
memory skills.
cerebellum - Answers - This area controls motor coordination. Damage to the cerebellum results in a
loss of balance and stumbling, and also may affect
cognitive functions such as memory and emotional response
, limbic system - Answers This complex brain system monitors a variety of tasks including memory and
emotion. Damage to this area impairs each of these
functions
cerebral cortex - Answers Our abilities to think, plan, behave intelligently, and
interact socially stem from this brain region. In addition, this area connects
the brain to the rest of the nervous system. Changes and damage to this area
impair the ability to solve problems, remember, and learn.
long term heavy drinking - Answers -causes alterations in the neurons, such as reductions in the size of
brain cells.
-brain mass shrinks and the brain's inner cavity grows bigger
-these changes affect a wide range of abilities including motor coordination, temperature regulation,
sleep, mood, and cognitive functions such as learning and memory.
-neurotransmitters try to create balance in the brain which causes alcohol tolerance, alcohol
dependence, and alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
the neurotransmitter glutamate - Answers affects memory
-alcohol interferes with glutamate action, which causes some people to temporarily black out, or forget
a lot of what happened during a night of heavy drinking
what factors make a difference with effects of alcohol? - Answers -how much and how often you drink -
more drinking = more brain vulnerability
-your genetic background and family history of alcoholism
-your physical health
liver damage that affects the brain - Answers Not only does alcoholic liver disease affect
liver function itself, it also damages the brain. The liver breaks down alcohol—and
the toxins it releases. During this process, alcohol's byproducts damage liver cells.
These damaged liver cells no longer function as well as they should and allow too
much of these toxic substances, ammonia and manganese in particular, to travel to
the brain. These substances proceed to damage brain cells, causing a serious and
potentially fatal brain disorder known as hepatic encephalopathy.
neurons - Answers multiple brain systems communicate with each other through about a trillion tiny
nerve cells called neurons
-translate information into electrical and chemical signals the brain can understand.
-send messages from the brain to the rest of the body
neurotransmitters - Answers carry messages between the neurons.
-can be very powerful
-depending on the type and amount of neurotransmitter, these chemicals can either intensify or
minimize your body's responses, feelings, and mood.
-alcohol can slow the pace of communication between neurotransmitters in the brain. this may cause
you to feel very drowsy
-can trigger mood and behavioral changes, including depression, agitation, memory loss, and seizures.
brain imaging - Answers Various imaging tools, including structural magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), diffusion tensor
imaging (DTI), and positron emission tomography (PET), are used to create pictures
of the brain. All of these imaging techniques are useful to track changes in the
alcoholic brain. For example, they can show how an alcoholic brain changes
immediately after drinking stops, and again after a long period of sobriety, to check
for possible relapses.
psychological tests - Answers Researchers also use psychological tests to evaluate how
alcohol related brain changes affect mental functioning. These tests demonstrate how
alcohol affects emotions and personality, as well as how it compromises learning and
memory skills.
cerebellum - Answers - This area controls motor coordination. Damage to the cerebellum results in a
loss of balance and stumbling, and also may affect
cognitive functions such as memory and emotional response
, limbic system - Answers This complex brain system monitors a variety of tasks including memory and
emotion. Damage to this area impairs each of these
functions
cerebral cortex - Answers Our abilities to think, plan, behave intelligently, and
interact socially stem from this brain region. In addition, this area connects
the brain to the rest of the nervous system. Changes and damage to this area
impair the ability to solve problems, remember, and learn.
long term heavy drinking - Answers -causes alterations in the neurons, such as reductions in the size of
brain cells.
-brain mass shrinks and the brain's inner cavity grows bigger
-these changes affect a wide range of abilities including motor coordination, temperature regulation,
sleep, mood, and cognitive functions such as learning and memory.
-neurotransmitters try to create balance in the brain which causes alcohol tolerance, alcohol
dependence, and alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
the neurotransmitter glutamate - Answers affects memory
-alcohol interferes with glutamate action, which causes some people to temporarily black out, or forget
a lot of what happened during a night of heavy drinking
what factors make a difference with effects of alcohol? - Answers -how much and how often you drink -
more drinking = more brain vulnerability
-your genetic background and family history of alcoholism
-your physical health
liver damage that affects the brain - Answers Not only does alcoholic liver disease affect
liver function itself, it also damages the brain. The liver breaks down alcohol—and
the toxins it releases. During this process, alcohol's byproducts damage liver cells.
These damaged liver cells no longer function as well as they should and allow too
much of these toxic substances, ammonia and manganese in particular, to travel to
the brain. These substances proceed to damage brain cells, causing a serious and
potentially fatal brain disorder known as hepatic encephalopathy.
