Specificity of the action of ethanol in the central nervous system: behavioral effects

The specificity of ethanol's behavioral actions is reviewed with regard to the possibility of other molecules, derived from ethanol sharing that action. The specificity of ethanol in relationship to other drugs with similar behavioral actions is also briefly reviewed. It is concluded that the ethanol molecule itself is primarily responsible for the behavioral effects but that other compounds may contribute to the effects. Ethanol is seen as being more unique than previously thought in that it has behavioral actions that are not the same as gaseous anesthetics.