Brain network mechanisms underlying anaesthetic-induced loss of consciousness

This project focuses on brain network mechanisms underlying anaesthetic-induced loss of consciousness through the application of simultaneous EEG/MEG and neural inference and network analysis methods. In this work we study the effects putative NMDA antagonists xenon, a potent anaesthetic, and nitrous oxide, a weak anaesthetic, on anesthetic-induced changes in brain mechanisms and networks. The goal is to find common brain mechanisms and networks that are effected by different kinds anaesthetics to see if this points to a 'backbone' for the generation of consciousness.