People are conscious when under anaesthetic new research suggests.

The researchers analysed 47 healthy people who were given either the sedative dexmedetomidine or the general anaesthetic propofol until they were unable to respond.

Study author Antti Revonsuo, from the University of Turku, Finland, said: 'Nearly all participants reported dream-like experiences that sometimes mixed with the reality.'

While the drugs were being infused, attempts were made to rouse the participants.

Drug concentrations were then increased until the participants appeared to lose consciousness.
The participants brain waves were recorded throughout the experiment.

All the participants were also played recordings of sentences that ended unexpectedly, such as 'the night sky was filled with shimmering tomatoes', while other sound bites were completely normal.

Brain-wave results suggest people alternate between deep sleep and a higher sense of consciousness while supposedly out cold.

The brain waves of sedated people suggest they can hear unusual phrases and try to make sense of them, while those on propofol continue snoozing.

Yet when the participants were played unpleasant noises, all seemed to be paying attention. They also reacted faster to the noises when played them again when awake.





http://medfort.com.ng/people-are-conscious-when-under-anaesthetic/