Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Recording Brain Electromagnetic Activity During the Administration of the Gaseous Anesthetic Agents Xenon and Nitrous Oxide in Healthy Volunteers
14:52

Recording Brain Electromagnetic Activity During the Administration of the Gaseous Anesthetic Agents Xenon and Nitrous Oxide in Healthy Volunteers

Published on: January 13, 2018

Awareness, dreaming and unconscious memory formation during anaesthesia in children

Andrew J Davidson1

  • 1Department of Anaesthesia, Royal Children's Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville 3052, Victoria, Australia. andrew.davidson@rch.org.au

Best Practice & Research. Clinical Anaesthesiology
|September 29, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Childhood awareness during anesthesia occurs in about 1% of cases, with varying incidence due to measurement methods. While many children show no distress, some may experience psychological symptoms, especially with differing memory types.

Area of Science:

  • Anesthesiology
  • Pediatric Psychology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Incidence of awareness during anesthesia in children varies widely (0-5%), with recent studies suggesting ~1%.
  • Accurate measurement of childhood awareness is challenging due to cognitive development and varied methodologies.
  • Causes, consequences, and memory formation (explicit vs. implicit) during pediatric anesthesia are not well-defined.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current understanding of awareness during anesthesia in children.
  • To explore factors influencing incidence and measurement techniques.
  • To discuss implications for memory formation and psychological outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on pediatric anesthesia awareness.
  • Analysis of methodologies used to assess awareness in children.
  • Comparison of explicit and implicit memory formation in pediatric anesthesia.

Main Results:

  • Incidence rates differ based on assessment tools, highlighting methodological impact.
  • Most children do not report distress from awareness, but psychological symptoms can occur.
  • Younger children (<3 years) form implicit memories but not explicit ones during anesthesia, with unknown relevance.

Conclusions:

  • Standardized methods are needed for accurate pediatric anesthesia awareness assessment.
  • While explicit memory is absent in neonates and infants, implicit memory and consciousness are present.
  • Further research is required to understand the long-term psychological impact and relevance of awareness in very young children.

More Related Videos

Optogenetic Activation of Afferent Pathways in Brain Slices and Modulation of Responses by Volatile Anesthetics08:16

Optogenetic Activation of Afferent Pathways in Brain Slices and Modulation of Responses by Volatile Anesthetics

Published on: July 23, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Subconsciousness and No Awareness01:15

Subconsciousness and No Awareness

The concept of subconscious awareness refers to the processing of information below the level of conscious thought, which significantly influences both behaviors and decisions. It is also known as waking subconscious awareness. This complex level of cognition operates without the direct awareness of the individual, facilitating rapid and simultaneous handling of multiple information streams.
An illustrative example of subconscious processing is its role in problem-solving. Often, individuals...
General Anesthesia: Overview01:24

General Anesthesia: Overview

Anesthesia is a medical procedure that uses drugs for CNS suppression to enable painless surgeries and procedures. The selection of anesthetics is influenced by their pharmacokinetic properties, side effects, and patient characteristics. Various types of anesthesia include general, local, regional, spinal, and inhalational.
General anesthesia induces unconsciousness in the whole body, while the others target specific areas or sensations. It is administered to minimize adverse effects, maintain...
Stages of General Anesthesia01:22

Stages of General Anesthesia

Various sedation levels offer significant advantages in facilitating procedural interventions for patients undergoing medical or invasive surgical procedures. These levels span from anxiolysis to general anesthesia, providing a spectrum of sedative effects to cater to specific patient needs. Anxiolysis reduces anxiety and is achieved through minimal sedation, enabling patients to remain awake and responsive while feeling more at ease during the procedure. This level can benefit minor...
Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview01:24

Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview

Intravenous anesthetics are drugs administered parenterally to induce anesthesia or sedation. Propofol is a widely used agent formulated as a 1% emulsion in soybean oil, glycerol, and egg phosphatide. It induces rapid anesthesia primarily due to its rapid distribution from the bloodstream to target tissues and is metabolized in the liver. However, it can cause significant pain on injection and hypertriglyceridemia. Fospropofol, a water-based prodrug of propofol, lacks these adverse effects.
Inhalational Anesthetics: Overview01:20

Inhalational Anesthetics: Overview

Inhalation anesthetics are drugs that induce general anesthesia upon inhalation. They work by increasing the sensitivity of GABAA receptors or inhibiting NMDA receptors, leading to a decrease in central nervous system activity. The depth of anesthesia can be rapidly adjusted by changing the concentration of the inhaled gas. Some common examples of inhalational anesthetics include volatile liquids like isoflurane, desflurane, sevoflurane and gases like xenon and nitrous oxide. Isoflurane, a...
Repressed Memory01:16

Repressed Memory

Repressed memories are a psychological phenomenon where memories of traumatic events are unconsciously blocked from a person's awareness. This process occurs as a defense mechanism, protecting the mind from the emotional impact of distressing or painful experiences. For example, a person who has experienced childhood trauma may grow up with no conscious recollection of the event. In such cases, the memories are thought to be buried deep within the subconscious, inaccessible to the conscious...