How anesthesia changes conscious experience in the human brain
Neuroimaging of Anesthetic Modulation of Human Consciousness
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · NIH-11231673
This project looks at how common anesthetic drugs change brain activity and the clarity of perception in adults during light sedation.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (ANN ARBOR, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11231673 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will use functional MRI while you perform a simple near-threshold perception task before and during controlled anesthetic exposure. They will measure how well you notice faint sensory experiences as your level of consciousness changes. The team will map which large-scale brain circuits (including anterior forebrain mesocircuit and cortical macrocircuit) and specific subcortical/cortical areas change with sedation. The goal is to link changes in brain network cooperation to how conscious contents are altered by anesthesia.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults who can safely undergo MRI and brief, controlled anesthetic exposure and who can perform simple perception tasks are the best candidates.
Not a fit: People who cannot have MRI or who cannot safely receive anesthetic drugs (for example due to certain implants, pregnancy, severe lung disease, or other medical contraindications) would not be eligible or likely to benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of how anesthetics alter awareness could improve monitoring and safety during sedation and guide treatments for disorders of consciousness.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research shows anesthetics disrupt brain networks and impair perception, but this work uses new imaging and perceptual tasks to more directly link specific circuits to the contents of consciousness.
Where this research is happening
ANN ARBOR, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR — ANN ARBOR, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: HUDETZ, ANTHONY GEORGE — UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- Study coordinator: HUDETZ, ANTHONY GEORGE
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions: Absence Seizure Disorder