Alcohol and the Brain

  • Brain diagram

    Frontal Lobe

    Home of Reason and Intellect

    .01–.10 BAC

    • lowering of inhabitions
    • reduced self control
    • reduced judgment capacity
    • dulling of attention
    • feeling of well-being

    Parietal Lobe

    Home of Emotions

    .10–.30 BAC

    • distortion of sensory ability
    • unsteadiness of movement
    • loss of some fine motor skills
    • speech disturbance

    Occipital Lobe

    Home of Perception

    .20–.30 BAC

    • loss of color perception
    • distortion of vision
    • double vision
    • loss of depth perception

    Cerebellum

    Home of Voluntary and Involuntary Functions

    .25–.35 BAC

    • coordination impairment
    • serious problems with balance

    Medulla Oblongata

    Home of Vital Life Functions

    .35–up BAC

    • continued intake may begin to affect regulatory functions at high BAC
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