Although much is known about the molecular and cellular effects of general anesthetics, the neural mechanisms underlying loss and recovery of consciousness during anesthesia remain elusive. We provide the first report of human single neuron activity recorded throughout emergence from general anesthesia. Following cessation of propofol infusion, emergence was assessed as motor response to verbal...
Theories of consciousness suggest that brain mechanisms underlying transitions into and out of unconsciousness are conserved no matter the context or precipitating conditions. We compared signatures of these mechanisms using intracranial electroencephalography in neurosurgical patients during propofol anesthesia and overnight sleep and found strikingly similar reorganization of human cortical...