Alteration of Consciousness by Anaesthetics: A Multiscale Modulation from the Molecular to the Systems Level
Journal of Consciousness Studies June 1, 2022 M. Cavaglià, E. A. Zizzi, S. Dombrowski et al.
General anaesthesia has been used since the mid-nineteenth century, but its pharmacological mechanism remains unclear. Investigations probe smaller scales to understand how anaesthetics disrupt neural activity, causing loss of consciousness. Advances in neuroscience and molecular biology allow study from behavioral to molecular levels. This multiscale approach links molecular domain to general anaesthesia and consciousness, and how anaesthetics affect postoperative behavioral changes. This review discusses current knowledge on consciousness and general anaesthesia using pharmacokinetics, molecular biology, and advanced imaging (EEG, fMRI, PET, MEG). Understanding anaesthetic mechanisms may help solve the mystery of consciousness, and understanding consciousness could lead to new anaesthetic agents and technologies to controllably turn consciousness on and off, generating new concepts in neurocognitive pathophysiology disorders.