Prime Time Replay:

Stephen Braun
author of Buzz: The Science
and Lore of Alcohol and Caffeine


MsgId: *brain_storm(1)
Date: Fri Oct 10 21:54:36 EDT 1997
From: Stephen_Braun At: 207.172.73.148

Ready when you are. :)
MsgId: *brain_storm(2)
Date: Fri Oct 10 21:59:41 EDT 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 205.198.117.143

Good evening and welcome to another edition of Brainstorms. I'm your host, Rob Killheffer, and with me tonight is Stephen Braun, author of an entertaining new book: "Buzz: The Science and Lore of Alcohol and Caffeine." How do these two substances work their wonders on our minds? What role have they played in society over the centuries? We'll explore this and more. Welcome, Stephen!
MsgId: *brain_storm(3)
Date: Fri Oct 10 22:00:30 EDT 1997
From: Stephen_Braun At: 207.172.73.148

Good to be here, Rob!
MsgId: *brain_storm(4)
Date: Fri Oct 10 22:02:33 EDT 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 205.198.117.143

Glad to have you. Let me start by saying I had no idea how little I knew about how alcohol and caffeine -- two substances I have enjoyed for many years -- work until I started reading your book. Alcohol and caffeine are so ubiquitous that we forget how mysterious their effects are.
MsgId: *brain_storm(6)
Date: Fri Oct 10 22:06:54 EDT 1997
From: Stephen_Braun At: 207.172.73.148

Yes! The reason I wrote my book was precisely that everybody I know, including myself, uses these substances, but until recently had no idea how they worked. In fact, I didn't know any more than the next guy until I had the pleasure of doing a fellowship for science writers at a place called the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA where I specialized in neuroscience. And it was while I was learning about how the brain works that I suddenly realized how little I knew about alcohol and caffeine and that came to me because during classes, everyone was drinking coffee. After classes, we would all go to the local bar and drink alcohol and talk about how the brain works.

It was just one of those "Aha!" moments when I was taking a sip of beer and suddenly realized that the things we were doing in the lab that day involved molecules that interacted with brain cells and I just suddenly realized there were molecules in my beer interacting with my brain cells, but I had not a clue about what the molecules were, or what they were doing. By the way, right now, as I'm talking, I have a beer in my hand.

MsgId: *brain_storm(8)
Date: Fri Oct 10 22:09:24 EDT 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 205.198.117.143

And I've got a Coke, loaded with caffeine. So we're test cases even as we speak (type). Why don't we start with that beer you've got there and talk about alcohol: one of the first points you make in your book is that the conventional wisdom -- that alcohol is simply a "depressant" -- isn't right at all; that alcohol's mind-altering effects are far more complex and mysterious.
MsgId: *brain_storm(9)
Date: Fri Oct 10 22:13:40 EDT 1997
From: Stephen_Braun At: 207.172.73.148

Right. I would say "complex, but not so mysterious." Aristotle was actually one of the first people we know of to note that alcohol is often as much a stimulant as a depressant. It took about 2000 years to catch up with him and understand why that is. Now we know. Alcohol is actually a molecule called ethanol. Ethanol, in addition to being a powerful solvent, acts as a drug. Ethanol molecules directly stimulate some of the same neurotransmitters that classic stimulants such as amphetamines and cocaine do. Those neurotransmitters include dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. In short, ethanol is a pharmacological handgrenade. It affects almost every brain system it touches.
MsgId: *brain_storm(10)
Date: Fri Oct 10 22:16:51 EDT 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 205.198.117.143

Of late the debate has raged over whether alcohol is good, bad, or neutral for the body. Some say moderate consumption can actually have health benefits, while others think it's nothing but a poison. And then of course there's the common belief that alcohol kills brain cells. What's the evidence on either side, as you see it? Is this pharmacological "hand grenade" necessarily bad for us?
MsgId: *brain_storm(11)
Date: Fri Oct 10 22:20:16 EDT 1997
From: Stephen_Braun At: 207.172.73.148

Great question, Rob! I think it can be easily argued that alcohol "is" a poison, but it is a poison that in small amounts appears to confer some well-documented health benefits. The evidence is strongest for ethanol's positive impact on cardiovascular health. In short, a little wine "is" good for the heart ("little" is generally understood to mean one standard drink per day for women, and no more than two standard drinks for men). Many people think that only red wine has this positive affect, but recent studies have shown that the cardio-protective effects of ethanol hold regardless of the beverage. There are two major caveats for the assertion that "a little ethanol is good for you." One, pregnant women should not drink alcohol, period. And neither should people predisposed or at risk for alcoholism. For these people, a little alcohol can be a very bad thing indeed.
MsgId: *brain_storm(13)
Date: Fri Oct 10 22:23:36 EDT 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 205.198.117.143

How is it that someone can be "predisposed" toward addiction to alcohol? That is, I would think that, with alcohol being a relatively recent addition to the human diet, there wouldn't have been time for alcohol-specific genetic traits to develop.
MsgId: *brain_storm(14)
Date: Fri Oct 10 22:28:17 EDT 1997
From: Stephen_Braun At: 207.172.73.148

Well, again, nice question, Rob. :) It's true that humans did not evolve with specific brain receptors for alcohol. But humans vary tremendously from one another. This variation is largely determined by genes. One of the things genes seem to dispose for is a greater or lesser sensitivity in something called the brain-reward system. This is the system nature gave us to guide our behavior towards things which would ensure our survival. This is a neurochemically mediated system. It's dependent upon neurotransmitters and brain cells. Ethanol interferes with exactly these brain cells and for some people, the interference has a much greater affect than for others. For some people, ethanol is much more pleasurable than others and therefore poses a greater risk for addiction. Again, it's a matter of genes which interact with environmental influences such as family dynamics, poverty, and psychology, to name a few. And that's a whole book unto itself!
MsgId: *brain_storm(16)
Date: Fri Oct 10 22:30:54 EDT 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 205.198.117.143

Before we move on to alcohol's partner in mind-alteration, caffeine, let's talk a bit about how alcohol actually works in the brain: for instance, one of the most commonly cited effects of alcohol is the loosening of inhibitions. How does that happen?
MsgId: *brain_storm(17)
Date: Fri Oct 10 22:34:58 EDT 1997
From: Stephen_Braun At: 207.172.73.148

Well, let's see. I think the honest answer to that question is "nobody really knows." That's partly because nobody really understands where inhibition lies in the brain -- what neurotransmitters modulate inhibition -- that's not that clear. However, we can say something about the molecular workings of ethanol which sheds some light on the question. For instance, ethanol has been shown to inhibit one of the most common excitatory transmitters in the brain -- in other words, it does exert a depressing effect on certain brain systems. It may well be that the part of the brain called the neocortex is more sensitive to this inhibition than other areas of the brain. It is theorized that it is in the neocortex that our executive functions exist -- our reasoning and analysis capabilities. It would make some sense then that if this region of the brain is more sensitive to ethanol than other regions, such as the regions controlling sex drives, for instance, that drinking alcohol would appear to have a disinhibiting affect.
MsgId: *brain_storm(19)
Date: Fri Oct 10 22:37:24 EDT 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 205.198.117.143

And then there's the paradox: that even as one's inhibitions recede, alcohol interferes with the sex drive and sexual function as well -- so those who drink as a prelude to romance may find themselves sidelined. Any clues about how that happens?
MsgId: *brain_storm(20)
Date: Fri Oct 10 22:40:38 EDT 1997
From: Stephen_Braun At: 207.172.73.148

:::chuckle::: Alcohol and sex are a delicate balance. There have been more than a hundred studies of the affect of ethanol on human sexual response. The overwhelming result is that from a purely physical standpoint, ethanol is bad for sex. It does act as a physical retardant of response, but, as we all know, sex involves more than just the body. And in fact, the brain is often jokingly referred to as our biggest sex organ. Therefore, sometimes if one's inhibitions are getting in the way of sex, a little alcohol might be a good thing. But, it's easy to overdo it and, as Shakespeare noted, more than a little alcohol can increase the desire but take away the performance.
MsgId: *brain_storm(21)
Date: Fri Oct 10 22:43:20 EDT 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 205.198.117.143

All of life seems to be such a delicate balance . . . it's so easy to have too much or too little. But let's take a look at caffeine, which seems to me to the be most ubiquitous mind-altering substance around. You can't be drinking beer on the job, but caffeine isn't merely tolerated, it's encouraged. Is caffeine really such a boost as it seems to be? And what are the down sides?
MsgId: *brain_storm(22)
Date: Fri Oct 10 22:46:32 EDT 1997
From: Stephen_Braun At: 207.172.73.148

When caffeine was introduced to Europe in the mid-17th century in the guise of coffee and tea, it was immediately seized by employees who realized their workers were much more productive on caffeine than on the then-common lunchtime drink of ale or mead. Ever since then, caffeine has greased the wheels of capitalism. Indeed, it is ubiquitious. Every teacher's lounge and workers' lunchroom has a coffeepot. Coincidence? I doubt it. Caffeine is a weak stimulant and as such can increase stamina and add motivation. Does it have downsides? Sure.

First of all, caffeine isn't a direct stimulant. It's an indirect stimulant for reasons that you can find in the book. But the upshot is that its effects are limited -- you'll hit the wall relatively quickly. Also, for every up, there is a down. Caffeine can be used for a temporary boost, but then the brain needs a rest. Further attempts at extracting energy from the brain with caffeine will be less than effective, and may actually induce lethargy, so once again, Rob, it's a matter of balance.

MsgId: *brain_storm(24)
Date: Fri Oct 10 22:51:21 EDT 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 205.198.117.143

Yeah, I've experienced that sometimes -- hitting that wall where each extra cup of coffee actually seems to hurt rather than help. As I recall, the early coffee houses were vilified much as bars are today by some people. It's funny to think that once alcohol was the accepted lunchtime drink, and caffeine the dangerous social disruptor, and now it's utterly reversed.
MsgId: *brain_storm(25)
Date: Fri Oct 10 22:53:45 EDT 1997
From: Stephen_Braun At: 207.172.73.148

Very true. You're probably referring to England under King Charles who tried to outlaw coffee houses as "dens of sedition." Apparently an intoxicated populace was a lot less threatening than a populace awake and thinking and talking freely, in his opinion.
MsgId: *brain_storm(26)
Date: Fri Oct 10 22:54:42 EDT 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 205.198.117.143

Yes, and I think it was also true in Turkey and the Middle East, where the rulers felt the same way. We are running out of time, so let me squeeze in some of my final questions. You say alcohol is clearly dangerous to a developing baby, and that pregnant women should avoid it altogether. Is the same true for caffeine?
MsgId: *brain_storm(27)
Date: Fri Oct 10 22:58:29 EDT 1997
From: Stephen_Braun At: 207.172.73.148

Oooooh. I was afraid you were going to ask me that. This is an area of hot debate. Studies on both sides of the issue can be found. Surgeon General suggests strongly that women abstain from caffeine completely. That is probably what "I" would say if I was the Surgeon General. However, the evidence for a harmful effect on fetuses of low-dose caffeine, meaning one to three cups of coffee a day, is extremely weak. Since I'm "not" the Surgeon General, and my wife is pregnant, I'm suggesting to her that very moderate amounts of caffeine are okay because I feel personally that the evidence simply does not support total abstinence.
MsgId: *brain_storm(28)
Date: Fri Oct 10 23:00:18 EDT 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 205.198.117.143

A debate to watch, then. We are just about out of time, so let me ask my final question, the one we've all been waiting for: "does" alcohol actually kill brain cells, or do all those fraternity brothers need to find another excuse for their academic records?
MsgId: *brain_storm(29)
Date: Fri Oct 10 23:02:16 EDT 1997
From: Stephen_Braun At: 207.172.73.148

Well, there's a good question. :) Simple answer is no, alcohol does not kill brain cells. In fact, proven by several scientists who went to the trouble of counting brain cells in dead alcoholics comparing the number of brain cells in dead non-alcoholics. However, although alcohol cannot kill brain cells, it can kill people, as was tragically illustrated recently at MIT. Bottom line is, you are not killing brain cells when you take a drink, but high doses of alcohol can cripple, kill, the brain as a whole.

Rob, that's rather a grim note to end on, particularly as I just polished off my beer. Alcohol can be a serious subject, but let's lighten up a little.

MsgId: *brain_storm(31)
Date: Fri Oct 10 23:04:45 EDT 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 205.198.117.143

A crucial point, and I'm glad you made it -- for all the pleasant effects these two substances can bring, they are potentially dangerous; they're poisons, after all. That's a good note to end on, I think. Thanks, Stephen, for a great conversation. To the audience, if you're interested in learning more about alcohol and caffeine, pick up "Buzz" -- it's a very enjoyable read. For Brainstorms, this is Rob Killheffer, signing off. Good night!
MsgId: *brain_storm(32)
Date: Fri Oct 10 23:05:32 EDT 1997
From: Stephen_Braun At: 207.172.73.148

Good night and thanks!

BTW, if anyone wants to contact me about the book, you can reach me at: stephenb@neri.org.

MsgId: *brain_storm(34)
Date: Fri Oct 10 23:07:16 EDT 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 205.198.117.143

Thanks again Stephen, and I suppose you're right: we shouldn't get too sober about the subject of alcohol. The best way to learn more about its effects is . . . try it yourself. And on "that" note, I'm headed for a beer. Good night!


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