Alcohol affects both "excitatory" neurotransmitters and "inhibitory" neurotransmitters. An example of an excitatory neurotransmitter is glutamate, which would normally increase brain activity and energy levels. Alcohol suppresses the release of glutamate, resulting in a slowdown along your brain's highways.

How does alcohol affect neurotransmitters in the brain?

Short-term alcohol exposure tilts the balance toward inhibition by both enhancing the function of inhibitory neurotransmitters and neuromodulators (i.e., GABA, glycine, and adenosine) and decreasing the function of excitatory neurotransmitters (i.e., glutamate and aspartate).

What are the 2 neurotransmitters affected by alcohol?

It affects several neurological pathways and causes significant changes in the brain. Some of the neurological pathways known to be affected by alcohol consumption include the dopaminergic, serotoninergic, γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) and glutamate pathways.