Neuroscience research: how has it contributed to our understanding of alcohol abuse and alcoholism? A review.
Alcohol abuse and alcoholism are the greatest substance abuse problems in the United States today and contribute to numerous medical and social problems. To deal with many of these problems, an understanding of how alcohol acts on the brain is extremely important. Advances in neuroscience research have provided significant clues about where and how alcohol works on the brain. Alcohol clearly acts on membrane function, altering such processes as ion movements and neurotransmitter interactions with their receptors. Although these alcohol-induced alterations are presumed to relate to changes in behavior, this has not been clearly established. However, alcohol research is on the threshold of making a giant leap forward in our understanding the etiology of alcoholism.
Hunt
W A
WA
Neurosciences and Behavioral Research Branch, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Rockville, Maryland 20857-0001.
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology; D012106:Research; D015290:Second Messenger Systems / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013570:Synaptic Membranes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D007473:Ion Channels; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents