FASD The Course > Module 2: Effects of Alcohol on the Fetus > 10. Central Nervous System Damage
Module 2: Effects of Alcohol on the Fetus
Central Nervous System Damage
The brain and spinal cord make up the CNS. The CNS can be damaged at any time during pregnancy. It is one of
the first systems to form after conception and continues developing after birth.
The CNS may be affected in many complex ways. CNS damage can cause learning and behavior problems. For
example, children with an FASD may have acute sensitivity to sound, light, touch, and temperature;
irritability; attention problems; and jitteriness.10,11
Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that allow communication to occur among nerve cells in the brain.
This occurs thousands of times a day and is responsible for brain function. Prenatal exposure to alcohol
significantly disrupts many neurotransmitter systems.
Prenatal alcohol exposure also may reduce serotonin levels.12
Serotonin is a chemical that plays a role in regulating mood, aggression, sexual activity, sleep, and
sensitivity to pain. Fetal alcohol exposure has also been linked to attention and hyperactivity problems
caused by dopamine abnormalities.13
Another chemical, dopamine, regulates motor function, pleasure and reward, and attention.
Studies of prenatal alcohol exposure have consistently found impaired motor control. Motor control is a
complex function influenced by the CNS. It also involves the peripheral nervous system, which provides
sensory feedback to the CNS. The vestibular system plays a role as well. It is located in the inner ear and
is involved in a person's sense of balance. Defects in any of these systems can affect motor control.
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