Alcohol ConsumptionAs we discussed in class, there is a concept that each individual has more than one "self." An individual has both a physical “self” and a mental or emotional “self”. I will give you an example to illustrate this concept. Many people who wake up in the morning to an alarm often have difficulty getting out of bed. They may know they'll be late for class or work if they stay in bed, but their body needs more sleep. This is an example of conflict between the two selves. Although there are arguably two selves, they are actually both rooted in the physical. As a result, a chemical change in the body can result in a significant change in the mental/emotional self. Specifically, I will explore how the effects of alcohol consumption can significantly impact a person's choices, how causing physical change through choice can influence a person mentally. The experience I designed following the “Time to Think?” » The lab increased my interest in the effects of alcohol consumption on the body and brain. While investigating research on alcohol use, I visited the websites of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and the American Medical Association, assuming that they would provide a significant amount of research into the biological effects of alcohol consumption. In fact, I found a much greater concentration of material covering dangerous and/or self-destructive actions taken under the influence of alcohol, particularly following excessive alcohol consumption. Nonetheless, I will begin by discussing the basic biology of what happens as a result of alcohol consumption. So, what happens to the brain when an individual consumes more and more alcohol? If you drink two drinks in an hour or if you reach a blood alcohol level between 0.02 and 0.06%, the association area of ​​the brain is gradually affected. This impairs reasoning ability as well as judgment. Symptoms include dizziness, less inhibited behavior, overestimation of skills, and slower reaction time. After consuming two to three drinks in an hour or reaching a blood alcohol level between 0.6 and 0.10%, most of the brain is gradually affected. The ability to reason, judge, senses, merit, coordination, vision and speech are all functions affected and/or altered..