Learning and memory impairment

Underage drinking harms the hippocampus, the area of the brain that is critical to learning and memory. Researchers have found that youth who drink have a smaller hippocampus than youth who don’t—and the earlier someone starts using alcohol, the greater the impact.

Hippocampus damage makes it harder for children and young adults to learn and memorize information—which can lead to trouble in school. The damage can be long-term, affecting their post-secondary academic and career success.

Decreased judgment, increased impulsivity

The prefrontal cortex, the area right behind the forehead, is responsible for executive functioning—concentration, organization, judgment, impulse control, and more. It undergoes great change during adolescence, which makes it very susceptible to the effects of alcohol. Alcohol can impair proper development, leading to lifelong problems with controlling impulsive behavior and thinking ahead.

Less brain activity

Researcher Susan Tapert, PhD, conducted a memory test with teens who didn’t drink and those who drank regularly. The scans reflected that brain activity (reflected as pink and red) in drinking teens was much lower than that of their nondrinking peers.

Photos courtesy of Susan Tapert, PhD, University of California San Diego.