Anyone with a strong familiarity with booze has either had a blackout themselves, or knows someone who has.
But not all blackouts are created equal; there are two types, "en bloc" and "fragmentary."
As their names imply, fragmentary blackouts cause the drinker to not recall moments for small periods of time, whereas en bloc refers to larger periods.
People who experience fragmentary blackouts, sometimes referred to as "brownouts," can typically recall forgotten events once they're reminded of them.
Alcohol interferes with the receptors in the hippocampus that transmit glutamate, a compound that carries signals between neurons.
In simpler terms, the effect is similar to anterograde amnesia in that the brain temporarily loses the ability to create new memories.
Blackout sufferers still may be able to partake in spirited discussions or send late-night emails to former employers. »
