Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory

Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory

The cerebellum, while traditionally associated with motor control, also plays a crucial role in memory, particularly in procedural memory, which involves learning motor tasks that become automatic through repetition. For example, studies have shown that when the cerebellum is damaged, individuals or animals lose the ability to learn conditioned motor responses, such as the conditioned eye-blink response in classical conditioning experiments with rabbits. This study demonstrates the cerebellum's...

CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine

CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine

Ethanol, a clear colorless alcohol, has been consumed by humans for millennia, but its effects on the body are far from benign. At lower doses, it induces decreased inhibitions and loquaciousness, leading to its social appeal. However, it can cause severe consequences at higher doses, such as coma and respiratory depression, due to its zero-order elimination kinetics. Chronic ethanol abuse wreaks havoc on multiple organ systems, particularly the CNS and the liver. Abrupt cessation of ethanol...

Lobes of the Cerebrum

Lobes of the Cerebrum

The cerebral cortex, a critical structure of the brain, is intricately divided into two hemispheres, each consisting of four distinct lobes: occipital, temporal, frontal, and parietal. These lobes function cooperatively to regulate various cognitive and sensory functions, forming the basis of our complex neural capabilities.
Frontal lobe
The frontal lobes, located behind the forehead, are the command center of our brain, controlling personality, intelligence, and voluntary muscle movements.

Depressants

Depressants

Depressant drugs, including alcohol and sedative-hypnotics, diminish central nervous system activity by enhancing the action of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that reduces brain activity and promotes relaxation. These substances can have various therapeutic uses but also pose significant risks, especially when misused or combined.
Alcohol is a common depressant that can induce a sense of relaxation and reduced inhibition at low doses. Contrary to its occasional...

Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena

Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena

Drug dependence, abuse, and addiction are complex phenomena that can precipitate various abnormal states. Physical dependence refers to a state of pharmacological adaptation to a drug. This adaptation often results in tolerance—a reduced response to the drug after repeated administrations. When the drug use is abruptly stopped, withdrawal symptoms occur due to the body's need to readjust from the pharmacologically induced imbalance. However, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms do not necessarily...

Association Areas of the Cortex

Association Areas of the Cortex

Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Consumption of Reinforcing Solutions Engages Dynamic Activity of the Prelimbic Cortical Outputs.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

Mediodorsal thalamus of alcohol-dependent mice shows genetic and physiological adaptations and alcohol-biased calcium signaling.

Neuropharmacology·2026

Same author

Adolescent alcohol exposure promotes mechanical allodynia and alters synaptic function at inputs from the basolateral amygdala to the prelimbic cortex.

eLife·2025

Same author

Central amygdala astrocyte plasticity underlies GABAergic dysregulation in ethanol dependence.

Translational psychiatry·2025

Same author

Effects of chronic ethanol exposure on dorsal medial striatal neurons receiving convergent inputs from the orbitofrontal cortex and basolateral amygdala.

Neuropharmacology·2025

Same author

Enhanced fear extinction through infralimbic perineuronal net digestion: The modulatory role of adolescent alcohol exposure.

Alcohol (Fayetteville, N.Y.)·2024

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 9, 2026

Disruption of Frontal Lobe Neural Synchrony During Cognitive Control by Alcohol Intoxication

Disruption of Frontal Lobe Neural Synchrony During Cognitive Control by Alcohol Intoxication

Published on: February 6, 2019

Alcohol and the prefrontal cortex.

Kenneth Abernathy¹, L Judson Chandler, John J Woodward

¹Department of Neurosciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.

International Review of Neurobiology

|September 4, 2010

Summary

Alcohol significantly impacts the prefrontal cortex, a key brain region for decision-making and behavior regulation. This review explores alcohol

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Neurobiology
Cognitive Science

Background:

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is crucial for complex cognitive functions and behavioral control.
It integrates information to guide purposeful actions and inhibit risky behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the anatomy and physiology of the prefrontal cortex.
To discuss the effects of alcohol on prefrontal cortex function.

Main Methods:

Review of human and animal literature.
Examination of electrophysiological and behavioral effects of alcohol exposure.

Main Results:

Alcohol profoundly affects prefrontal cortex function.
Both acute and chronic alcohol exposure have significant impacts.

More Related Videos

Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder

Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder

Published on: June 23, 2023

Flypub To Study Ethanol Induced Behavioral Disinhibition and Sensitization

Flypub To Study Ethanol Induced Behavioral Disinhibition and Sensitization

Published on: May 18, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 9, 2026

Disruption of Frontal Lobe Neural Synchrony During Cognitive Control by Alcohol Intoxication

Disruption of Frontal Lobe Neural Synchrony During Cognitive Control by Alcohol Intoxication

Published on: February 6, 2019

Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder

Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder

Published on: June 23, 2023

Flypub To Study Ethanol Induced Behavioral Disinhibition and Sensitization

Flypub To Study Ethanol Induced Behavioral Disinhibition and Sensitization

Published on: May 18, 2020

Conclusions:

Further research is needed to fully understand alcohol's effects on the PFC.
Key questions remain regarding the mechanisms and long-term consequences.