Brain under surgical anesthesia: focus on nociception and attention network

Surgery endangers the integrity of the body through a continuous stream of noxious stimuli. General anesthesia helps patients cope with the surgery situation. In the first part of our literature review, we present our new knowledge about nociception as described by Sherrington. Anesthesiology researchers have discovered the common mechanism of action of various anesthetics for loss of consciousness (LOC). We review the neural correlates of anesthesia. Maintaining the unconscious state created by anesthetics during surgery is only possible by continuously counteracting nociception. Finally, we present the role of the opioid receptor system in antinociception. Understanding all these processes can help expand our knowledge about nociception, pain and formation of consciousness.