What is Alcohol?

By:Shannen SolatanLeila NevalascaKay Mendoza

ALCOHOL

Alcohol Effects on the Nervous System Serotonin:

• Increases the Serotonin levels in the brain, which is the reason of alcohol being addictive.

Dopamine:

• Increases the Dopamine levels, which also contributes to the addictive effect.

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

• Alcohol increases GABA activity, which inhibits the brain activity.

Glutamate

• The excitatory neurotransmitter, alcohol reduces glutamate activity, the result is slurred speech and discoordination.

ALCOHOL - The blood stream absorbs the alcohol and the nervous system slows down dramatically.

Short Term Effect

• Poor vision• Slow reaction time• Reduced

Coordination• Slower brain

activity• Sleepiness• Slurred Speech• Vomiting

ALCOHOL - The blood stream absorbs the alcohol and the nervous system slows down dramatically.

Long Term Effect• Brain cells die• Cancer• Hyperglycermia• Kidney Disease• Nervous Disorders• Coma• Death• Higher chance of heart

attack/stroke

COCAINE

COCAINE - When it is used it interferes with the absorption of dopamine.

Short Term Effect

• Constricted blood vessels

• Dilated pupils

• Increased body temperature

• Increased Heart Rate

• Higher blood pressure

Long Term Effect

• Irregular Heart Beat• Heart Attack• Chest Pain• Respiratory Failure• Stroke• Seizures• Nausea• Death

Using cocaine can damage a person's brain. The use of cocaine can cause strokes by constricting blood vessels to the brain. Cocaine also increases the concentration of dopamine in the synapse.

Functions of the nervous system

• Sensory Input - by receptors, the nervous system monitors changes in the environment both outside and within the body

• Integration – the CNS (Central Nervous System) processes the sensory inputs, interprets and integrates them

• Motor Output – the nervous system triggers a response by stimulating the effector organs; muscles and glands.

The main organs of the nervous system are the brain and the spinal cord.

-Severe intoxication could lead to many things.-It can can further deteriorate with disorder of

consciousness and of the respiratory cardiac centers

-lead to unconsciousness or severe instability, respiratory failure, or cardiac arrest. Severe intoxication could also lead to disorder of the reflexes. it could also lead to hypothermia. Hypothermia is a condition in which the core temperature drops below the required temperature for normal metabolism and body functions.

-Severe intoxication could also lead to disorder of the reflexes.

-It could also lead to hypothermia. -Hypothermia is a condition in which the core

temperature drops below the required temperature for normal metabolism and body functions.

- The impulses of the nervous system are 0.1 volts (100 millivolts) strong.

- The average adult human brain weighs just below three pounds.

- There is a character from the cartoon "The Powerpuff Girls" with a similar name to a certain part of the brain: the cerebellum (Sara Bellum)

Did you know?

Drugs - Good or bad?

- Fin -

BIBLIOGRAPHY• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nervous_system_diagram.png

• http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120508013328/powerpuff/images/3/3f/Sara_Bellum.png

• http://alcoholism.about.com/od/coke/a/effects.htm

• http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4564229_alcohol-affect-nervous-system.html

• http://www.healthchecksystems.com/alcohol.htm

• http://www2.courtinfo.ca.gov/stopteendui/teens/resources/substances/alcohol/short-and-long-term-effects.cfm

• http://www.interactive-biology.com/65/how-does-alcohol-affect-the-nervous-system/

• http://www.kickoff.net.au/Cocaine-&-the-Brain.html