The question is all contained in the title. I see how alcohol is a depressant when one is in a bad mood. But if one is feeling happy or silly or excited, or at least you’re open to feeling that way, how is it that alcohol can enhance that, if it’s a depressant?
In: Biology
Alcohol binds to receptors in your brain, called GABA receptors.
GABA stands for gamma aminobutrylic acid. GABA is one of four predominant neurotransmitters in your brain that affect your conscious state, the other 3 are serotonin, dopamine, and acetylcholine.
Different drugs bind to different receptors. Alcohol binds to GABA receptors. When it does this it inhibits them, as opposed to exciting them. This causes central nervous system depression.
When your central nervous system is depressed it is often easy to go to sleep and you have decreased electrical activity in your brain.
That being said, alcohol itself tends to intensify whatever emotion you’re currently feeling. Thats why angry people often get ridiculously angry with alcohol.
Latest Answers