Exposure to anesthesia causes lipid clusters to move from an ordered state to a disordered one, then back again. These changes lead to subsequent effects that cause changes in consciousness. Read More
Study finds EEG features may not always be accurate in being able to capture the level of consciousness in patients under anesthesia. Read More
Study shows listening to calming music before surgery has similar effects as midazolam in reducing anxiety before regional anesthesia is given. Read More
Medically induced loss of consciousness disrupts neuron population activity patterns by generating fewer discriminable network microstates, and fewer neuronal ensembles. Findings suggest local neuronal ensemble dynamics may contribute to the emergence of conscious states. Read More
Study reveals anesthesia activated neurons have been discovered in the hypothalamus. Activation of AANs promotes slow-wave sleep, extending the effects of anesthesia, while inhibition of AANs shortens the duration of general anesthetics and disrupts natural sleep. Read More
In utero exposure to anesthesia appears to disrupt the migration of neurons to developing brain areas critical to language and cognition in rats. Read More
A new study reveals the prefrontal cortex may play a role in coordinating the level of consciousness through the cholinergic system. Read More
Researchers report children who underwent general anesthesia and surgery prior to the age of one showed decreased white matter volume and integrity. Read More
A new study reveals animals injected with caffeine during the last 10 minutes of exposure to general anesthetic woke more quickly than those injected with saline solution. Waking times became significantly quicker with higher doses of caffeine. Read More
Researchers observe a sustained increase in neural signal diversity in people under the influence of psychedelics. Read More
Under anesthesia, the nerve cells change their mode of operation by firing more synchronously, and by becoming surprisingly reactive to environmental stimuli, researchers report. Read More
Using optogenetics to activate dopamine receptors in the ventral tegmental area could help people regain consciousness following general anesthesia, researchers report. Read More
