PSYC 475 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Disinhibition, Alcohol By Volume, Depressant

• School: University of Calgary
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 475
• Professor: Simon Spanswick

Document Summary

Pharmacological effects of alcohol acts as a depressant and anticonvulsant induces sleep but causes a suppression of rem so the quality of sleep isn t good. Behavioural effects: disinhibition; frontal cortex turns off, causing lack of restraint alcohol myopia: focusing on things that are happening locally, what s here and right now ex. bar fights, driving while under the influence. Metabolic tolerance up-regulation of enzymes that metabolize alcohol. Tissue/functional tolerance down regulation of gaba receptors (need less of them to produce the same results) appear less intoxicated, but still have cognitive deficits. Acute tolerance (ex. drink yourself sober) while blood levels rise: i m intoxicated when it starts dropping: i m sober (even though overall blood levels are still high) purely subjective. When someone stops drinking, they will experience withdrawal because the balance of inhibition and excitation is thrown off there s a dysfunctional balance overactivity of glutamate and under activity of gaba.