Neurophysiological connectomic signatures of consciousness during propofol-induced general anesthesia.
Yuqin Li, Xiaoxiao Chen, Hui Zheng, Senqi Li, Qingyu Teng, Chengyu Wang, Fali Li, Zhongcong Xie, Daniel I Sessler, Zhe Zhang, Peng Xu, Ti-Fei Yuan, Tao Xu
Cell Reports Medicine February 17, 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2025.102581 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 77 |
| Population | Surgical patients receiving propofol anesthesia (31) and patients under mild sedation with low-dose propofol (46) |
| Intervention | Propofol |
| Keywords | Anesthesia Electroencephalogram Functional connectivity Loss of consciousness Propofol |
| Key findings | Propofol anesthesia increased delta and theta functional connectivity and decreased alpha, beta, and gamma connectivity. Alpha-band connectivity among parietal, occipital, and subcortical regions appeared critical for sustaining consciousness, with its disruption marking the transition to unconsciousness. Reduced parietal-related alpha connectivity was a stable marker of reduced consciousness in a separate sedation group. |
Abstract
General anesthesia induces reversible changes in consciousness through cortical activity and connectivity alterations, yet the functional connectome dynamics underlying propofol-induced unconsciousness remains unclear. We analyze high-density 128-channel electroencephalogram (EEG) from 31 surgical patients using source localization to identify neurobiological connectome signatures of propofol anesthesia. Propofol anesthesia increases delta and theta functional connectivity and decreases alpha, beta, and gamma connectivity. A classification model and dynamic analysis of consciousness loss reveals that alpha-band connectivity between parietal, occipital, and subcortical regions is critical for sustaining consciousness, with its disruption marking a key transition to unconsciousness. EEG from 46 additional patients under mild sedation with low-dose propofol confirms that decreased parietal-related alpha connectivity serves as a stable marker of reduced consciousness, insensitive to subtle fluctuations but sensitive to the transition from consciousness to unconsciousness. These findings suggest that parietal, occipital, and subcortical alpha connectivity serves as a reliable neural correlate of propofol-induced unconsciousness.
Citations in the library
Cites 21
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