Alcohol Consumption As 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'll give you an example to illustrate this concept. Many people who wake up to an alarm in the morning often find it very difficult to get out of bed. They may know they will be late for class or work if they stay in bed, but their bodies need more sleep. This is an example of conflict between the two selves. While there are likely two selves, in reality they are 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 influence one's choices, how causing a physical change by choice can also affect a person on a mental level. The experiment I designed following the "Time to Think?" project it increased my interest in the effects of alcohol consumption on the body and brain. As I reviewed research on alcohol use, I visited the websites of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and the American Medical Association, under the assumption that they would provide a significant amount of research on the biological effects of alcohol use. I actually found a much greater concentration of material covering dangerous and/or self-destructive actions taken under the influence of alcohol, particularly following binge drinking. However, I will begin by discussing the basic biology of what occurs as a result of alcohol consumption. So, what happens to an individual's brain as they consume more and more alcohol? If you drink two drinks in an hour or reach a blood alcohol level of between 0.02 and 0.06%, the association area of ​​the brain is progressively affected. This impairs one's ability to reason and one's judgment. Symptoms include dizziness, less inhibited behavior, overestimation of abilities, and slower reaction times. After consuming two or three drinks in an hour or if you reach a blood alcohol level of between 0.6 and 0.10%, most of the brain is progressively affected. The ability to reason, judge, sense, merit, coordination, vision and speech are all functions that are influenced and/or compromised.