The ossicles are classically supposed to mechanically convert the vibrations of the eardrum, into amplified pressure waves in the fluid of the cochlea (or inner ear) with a lever arm factor of 1.3.
1 In 2008, research on marijuanaâs risk to health commissioned by nonpartisan British think tank the Beckley Foundation found: âThe public health impact of contemporary patterns of cannabis use are modest by comparison with those of other illicit drugs (such as the opioids) or with alcohol. In 2002, an exhaustive review of marijuana and health performed by a special Canadian Senate committee found that âscientific evidence overwhelmingly indicates that cannabis is substantially less harmful than alcohol and should be treated not as a criminal issue but as a social and public health issue.â.
Although GABA activity doesn't entirely explain alcohol's effects and we don't know exactly what the delta receptor does, a big part of the mystery seems to have come unraveled. Because GABA is the primary inhibitory neuron in the brain, it can affect virtually every system. Alcohol is more than simply a depressant. The physical structure of the brain remains constant, but the addition of a tiny chemical drastically alters brain function and ultimately behavior. Understanding how alcohol affects our brain also offers insight into how our brains work in general. So the next time you drink, even though you may be killing some valuable brain cells, you can toast to the fact that you're contributing to neuroscience. Notes: Giancola PR, Zeichner A. The biphasic effects of alcohol on human physical aggression. J Abnorm Psychol. 1997 Nov;106(4):598-607. McDougle CJ, Krystal JH, Price LH, Heninger GR, Charney DS.