What Happens to Your Brain When You Blackout from Being Drunk?

Do not know how you got home after a night of drinking? Have a complete blackout? You are not alone. Alcohol causes these dangerous changes in your brain when you are drunk, giving you temporary amnesia.

After a night of drinking, have you ever woken up unable to remember how you got home? Had a tear or stain on your shirt that you cannot figure out where it came from? End up in a prison cell for reasons unknown? Has your partner been livid with you about an argument you do not remember having? The cause of these memory lapses is an alcohol-induced blackout – and it is fairly common, despite not exactly being healthy.

What is an Alcohol-induced Blackout?

There are two terms used for blackouts which occur as an effect of alcohol consumption: en bloc, and fragmentary. Fragmentary blackouts mean that the person is missing bits and pieces of their memory from the previous drinking episode. Usually, once reminded of the events, the person is able to recall them fully. As this is not a complete blackout, it is sometimes referred to as a brownout.

En bloc blackouts, on the other hand, refer to blackouts of long periods of time. Often, the drinker will have memories up to a certain point, after which they can remember absolutely nothing for the rest of the night. Even when reminded of the events (which are often quite embarrassing or even dangerous), the person is unable to bring the memories back.

Keep in mind that unlike passing out, the person experiencing the blackout typically appears normal on the outside. Other than the fact that by this point they are quite drunk, they are able to carry on with conversations and partake in activities. Blackouts are usually only apparent the next morning when the person realises they cannot recall the previous night’s events