Alcohol intoxication

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/alcohol-intoxication

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary neurochemical action?Enhances GABAergic inhibition and suppresses glutamatergic excitation, leading to CNS depression
2. What is the historical production method?Fermentation of fruits and grains, with distillation enabling higher alcohol concentrations
3. What happens to my brain when I drink too much?Alcohol makes the brain’s signals slow down, so you feel fuzzy and have trouble deciding what to do.
4. Why does drinking make me feel unsteady or wobble?Alcohol hurts the part of the brain that helps you balance, so you might wobble or have trouble walking.

GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid): The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system.
Glutamate: The primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system.
Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC): The measure of the amount of alcohol in a person's bloodstream.
Ataxia: A neurological sign consisting of lack of voluntary coordination of muscle movements.