More than 100 participants completed a brain function test after a night of drinking.
Hangovers reduce brain function and memory, according to new research from Swinburne University of Technology (Swinburne) in Melbourne.
The research was conducted in the central entertainment district of Brisbane and involved breathalysing and interviewing participants at the end of a night out.
The following morning, more than 100 participants who had consumed alcohol that night completed an online survey and cognitive test, while experiencing varying degrees of hangovers. The test measured brain function, particularly memory and executive function.
The research found that those who had a higher breath alcohol concentration (BAC) on the previous night, spent more time drinking, reported worse hangover symptoms and performed the test slower than more sober counterparts.
Why it matters
"Not surprisingly, the more alcohol that is consumed, the worse the hangover and impairment to the brain," says Swinburne Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Dr Sarah Benson. However, Dr Benson adds that this type of research is important so people understand their limitations while hungover.
