Pochemy.net
psychology Psychology

Why can I not remember what happens when I’m drunk?

Sarah Jenkins
Sarah Jenkins
Lead Content Curator · Feb 11, 2026 · Updated Apr 13, 2026

Memories enter the brain first as short term memory, that is then transformed into a long-term memory. This is evident because the majority of short-term memories that we experience are lost before they ever make it into what we will call "long-term" storage. When alcohol is consumed it affects y…

111
Words

1 min
Read Time

#90
of 500 in Psychology

+63%
vs Category Avg

The Short Answer

Memories enter the brain first as short term memory, that is then transformed into a long-term memory. This is evident because the majority of short-term memories that we experience are lost before they ever make it into what we will call "long-term" storage. When alcohol is consumed it affects your ability to take short-term memories and transform them into long-term memories. This is why you only may remember small bits and pieces of the night, these are the select short-term memories that were allowed to settle into long-term ones without the interruption of alcohol. As the level of alcohol drops, the number of memories that make it into "long-term' storage increases.

Analysis

Key Concepts: Memories, long-term, short-term

This explanation focuses on memories, long-term, short-term and spans 111 words across 5 sentences. At 63% above the average Psychology explanation (68 words), this is one of the more thorough answers in this category, reflecting the complexity of the underlying question.

What This Answer Covers

The explanation opens with: “Memories enter the brain first as short term memory, that is then transformed into a long-term memory.” It then elaborates by explaining the root cause, ultimately building toward a complete picture across 5 connected points.

How This Compares in Psychology

Ranked #90 of 500 Psychology questions by answer depth (top 19%). This places it in the comprehensive tier — the top quarter of most thoroughly answered questions. Questions at this depth typically involve multi-faceted topics requiring nuanced explanation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a simple explanation for why i not remember what happens when i'm drunk?

Memories enter the brain first as short term memory, that is then transformed into a long-term memory. This is evident because the majority of short-term memories that we experience are lost before they ever make it into what we will call…

How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Psychology questions?

This is one of the most thorough answer at 111 words, ranked #90 of 500 Psychology questions by depth. The key concepts covered are memories, long-term, short-term.

What approach does this answer take to explain i not remember what happens when i'm drunk?

The explanation uses root cause analysis across 111 words. It is categorized under Psychology and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.