A study published in Nature Human Behavior reveals that general anesthesia suppresses unique functional connectivity patterns in the brain, making it difficult to distinguish individuals based on their neural activity. This effect is strongest in uniquely human brain regions and has implications for understanding and potentially aiding consciousness recovery.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have used the anesthetic drug propofol to identify the intricate brain geometry behind the unconscious state, offering an unprecedented look at brain structures that have traditionally been difficult to study.
