Why Does Alcohol Make Us Feel Good?

Author: Ivan Red Jr. Time for reading: ~0 minutes Last Updated: August 08, 2022

Alcohol consumption leads to the release of endorphins. The process is observed for the first time in humans.

Scientists have discovered why alcohol makes us feel good. For the first time, it has been proven that alcohol consumption leads to the release of chemicals in the so-called "pleasure center" in the brain, provoking feelings of pleasure and reward.

Previous studies have shown that the pleasant effects of alcohol consumption are due to the release of endorphins in the brain.

Using positron emission tomography (PET), researchers at the University of California show that endorphins are released in two regions of the brain, the nucleus accumbens and the orbitofrontal cortex, in response to alcohol use. For all participants, this process led to a greater sense of pleasure.

This has been suggested for approximately 30 years, based on animal tests, but the process is being observed for the first time in humans, explains study leader neuroscientist Prof. Jennifer Mitchell.

However, scientists are making an important clarification. While low to moderate doses of alcohol help release hormones that improve mood and pleasure, high doses have the opposite effect and can stimulate other systems in the brain, leading to anxiety and depression.

Why Does Alcohol Make Us Feel Good?

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