Understanding how the brain recovers consciousness after anesthesia
Official title: Anesthesia and Consciousness
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11001179 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how different types of anesthesia affect how quickly and well people wake up and think clearly afterward, and it wants to see if there are any differences between men and women in this process, all to help improve the experience for patients coming out of anesthesia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $371,112 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM152187-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11001179 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals undergoing surgical procedures that require general anesthesia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not require general anesthesia for their procedures or those with contraindications to anesthesia may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the recovery of consciousness and cognitive functions following general anesthesia. It aims to fill knowledge gaps regarding how different anesthetic drugs affect cognitive recovery and whether there are sex differences in this process. The study will explore the trajectory of cognitive recovery and the role of specific neural circuits in facilitating this recovery. By using animal models, the research seeks to provide insights that could lead to better management of patients waking up from anesthesia.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments for patients experiencing complications during recovery from anesthesia, such as emergence delirium.
How similar studies have gone: While the use of general anesthetics is common, the specific focus on cognitive recovery mechanisms is relatively novel, indicating a potential for groundbreaking insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Solt, Ken — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Solt, Ken
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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.