Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 29, 2025
Optogenetic Activation of Afferent Pathways in Brain Slices and Modulation of Responses by Volatile Anesthetics
Published on: July 23, 2020
Convergent effects of different anesthetics on changes in phase alignment of cortical oscillations
Abstract:
Many anesthetics cause loss of responsiveness despite having diverse underlying molecular and circuit actions. To explore the convergent effects of these drugs, we examined how anesthetic doses of ketamine and dexmedetomidine affected oscillations in the prefrontal cortex of nonhuman primates. Both anesthetics caused increases in phase locking in the ventrolateral and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, within and across hemispheres. However, the nature of the phase locking varied. Activity in different subregions within a hemisphere became more anti-phase with both drugs. Local analyses within a region suggested that this finding could be explained by broad cortical distance-based effects, such as large traveling waves. By contrast, homologous areas across hemispheres became more in-phase. Our results suggest that both anesthetics induce strong patterns of cortical phase alignment that are markedly different from those in the awake state, and that these patterns may be a common feature driving loss of responsiveness from different anesthetic drugs.
Insights
Anesthetics like ketamine and dexmedetomidine alter brainwave patterns in the prefrontal cortex, causing increased phase alignment. These synchronized brain oscillations may explain how diverse anesthetics induce loss of responsiveness.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Anesthesiology
- Computational Neuroscience
Background:
- Anesthetics induce loss of responsiveness through diverse mechanisms.
- Understanding convergent anesthetic effects on brain circuits is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of ketamine and dexmedetomidine on prefrontal cortex oscillations in nonhuman primates.
- To identify common patterns of cortical activity induced by different anesthetics.
Main Methods:
- Electrophysiological recordings of prefrontal cortex oscillations in nonhuman primates.
- Analysis of phase locking and synchronization patterns within and across hemispheres.
- Investigation of anesthetic-induced changes in cortical activity.
Main Results:
- Both ketamine and dexmedetomidine increased phase locking in the prefrontal cortex.
- Anesthetics induced anti-phase activity within hemispheric subregions.
- Homologous areas across hemispheres exhibited increased in-phase activity.
Conclusions:
- Anesthetics induce distinct patterns of cortical phase alignment compared to the awake state.
- These synchronized oscillations may represent a common mechanism underlying anesthetic-induced loss of responsiveness.
- Findings suggest a unified circuit-level explanation for anesthetic action.
More Related Videos
14:52Recording Brain Electromagnetic Activity During the Administration of the Gaseous Anesthetic Agents Xenon and Nitrous Oxide in Healthy Volunteers
Published on: January 13, 2018
08:49Assessing Changes in Volatile General Anesthetic Sensitivity of Mice after Local or Systemic Pharmacological Intervention
Published on: October 16, 2013
Related Concept Videos
01:22Stages of General Anesthesia
01:27Local Anesthetics: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship
01:24General Anesthesia: Overview
General anesthesia induces unconsciousness in the whole body, while the others target specific areas or sensations. It is administered to minimize adverse effects, maintain...
01:13Local Anesthetics: Pharmacokinetics
01:12Local Anesthetics: Adverse Effects
Once absorbed into the systemic circulation, local anesthetics can affect the organs that depend on the functioning of sodium...
01:24Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview