Addiction Alcohol Use How Getting Blackout Drunk Blocks New Memories From Forming By Buddy T Buddy T Facebook Twitter Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Learn about our editorial process Updated on January 15, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Huma Sheikh, MD Medically reviewed by Huma Sheikh, MD Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Huma Sheikh, MD, is a board-certified neurologist, specializing in migraine and stroke, and affiliated with Mount Sinai of New York. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Yoann JEZEQUEL Photography / Getty Images Have you ever drank so much alcohol that you could not remember parts from the night before? Maybe you cannot remember how you got home. Perhaps your friends tell you that you were the life of the party, dancing the night away, or you woke up somewhere you wished you had not. If this sounds familiar, then chances are you experienced an alcohol-induced blackout. Blackouts can last a few minutes or for several hours. They can occur in females and males, young and old. Blackouts Affect Your Brain's Ability to Learn Some people who have never had an alcohol-related blackout do not believe that they actually happen. They do not see how someone could carry on a detailed argument or behave outrageously and not remember a thing about it. They think blackouts are convenient excuses. But medicine and science tell us that blackouts are real. For many years, it was believed that drinking too much alcohol was killing brain cells or the neurons in the brain that receive signals, and that was the cause of memory loss. Now we know that too much alcohol in the body can trigger a chemical reaction in the brain that blocks the brain's ability to learn. The brain cells continue to process information and communicate with each other but are not capable of forming new memories. Alcohol and Formation of Memories A person cannot remember something that the brain did not record. Alcohol interferes with receptors in the brain that carry signals between neurons or brain cells. Alcohol affects some brain cells differently than others—it can inhibit some and later activate others—causing them to manufacture steroids that prevent memory formation. The steroids produced by the alcohol-affected brain cells can reduce the strength of the brain's connections between brain cells which is critical for learning and memory. The steroids interfere with synaptic plasticity or the brain's communication system of passing signals between cells. This communication system is a necessary component of memory formation. Keep in mind that drugs can cause blackouts, too. A Word From Verywell Blackout drinking is also considered a symptom of an alcohol problem. If you frequently drink to the point that you do not remember events from the night before, you may want to take an online quiz to see if your drinking has reached the level of alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence. If you find that you have developed a drinking problem, you may want to get help in cutting down or quitting altogether. If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 2 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Lovinger DM. Communication networks in the brain. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. University of Michigan Medicine. Blackouts caused by alcohol or drugs. Get Treatment for Addiction Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.