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College Binge Drinking Tags

Cognitive Capabilities of Teens Damaged by Binge Drinking

For many a teenager, the idea of getting drunk is laden with excitement and daring intrigue. What may not be as obvious are the very real risks involved with drinking at a young age.

A recent NPR post highlights the dangers of a drunken night that can impact an individual long after the memories of the night fade away.

Susan Tapert, a neuroscientist at the University of California recently conducted research, comparing the brain scans of teens who drink heavily with the scans of teen who do not.

In the scans of drinking teens, Tapert found damaged nerve tissue. She believes this damage negatively affects attention span in boys and a young girls’ ability to comprehend and interpret visual information.

"First of all, the adolescent brain is still undergoing several maturational processes that render it more vulnerable to some of the effects of substances," Tapert said. This underdevelopment of the teen brain makes it more sensitive to the toxic effects of drugs and alcohol.

According to Ron Dahl, a pediatrician and brain researcher at the University of Pittsburgh, adolescents seem to have a higher tolerance from the negative immediate effects of binge drinking – which can make it easier to consume higher amounts and enjoy some of the positive effects. At the same time, it also means the teen can fall harder when the not-so-fun side effects set in.

Being passionate about a particular activity, a particular sport, passionate about literature or changing the world or a particular religion is a normal, predictable part of being a teenager, Dahl said. "But those same tendencies to explore and try new things and try on new identities may also increase the likelihood of starting on negative pathways."

Tapert continues her studies into the impact alcohol consumption has on the brain of a teenager. One element that remains unknown is whether or not the cognitive downward slide of a teenage binge drinker can be reversed.