We finally have some GOOD and solid science behind the age old axiom that men are actually prone to grow "beer muscles" in a crisis…ESPECIALLY after hanging out at the keg for a few hours first..:-)  According to functional MRI studies, Dr. Daniel Hommer claims that Men are less likely to be afraid, or avoid conflict with a nice, healthy buzz.  (ok – I added in the healthy part..:-)  But a fascinating look at why I got my ass kicked every weekend between the ages of 22 and 27 nonetheless.  You can read the whole story at the link below.

Now, a new brain scan study shows drinking actually dampens the biological ability to feel fear. Latest Mental Health News * Drinking Dampens Ability to Feel Fear * When people drink, these lowered fear levels can lead to liquor-fueled courage that can ultimately make people more aggressive, explained study co-author Dr. Daniel Hommer."You’re less likely to feel afraid, and you’re also less likely to run away or to avoid conflict," said Hommer, chief of the section on brain imaging at the National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse.Using a technology known as functional MRI, researchers scanned the brains of 12 subjects as they received alcohol or a saline solution intravenously.All the subjects — an average age of 26 — were social drinkers, meaning they typically drank every week but not every day. They drank an average of 1.9 days a week and 3.6 drinks per day on the day they drank.Seven of the subjects were women and five were men; all were healthy. Each volunteer received both alcohol or the saline solution, on two separate occasions.

Drinking Dampens Ability to Feel Fear – Mental Health Disorders on MedicineNet.com

Tags: beermuscles, alchohol