Anesthetics and the brain

The action of anesthetics on the nervous system can be understood by considering their possible interactions with neuronal function. Anesthesia may be produced by a change in the balance of inhibitory synapses (notable via GABAa receptors) and excitatory synapses (notably glutamate receptors). Our knowledge of the specific mechanisms of anesthetic drugs and the structures in the CNS remains inadequate to explain the anesthetic state by one mechanism. The action of anesthetics can also be considered based on the action of the drugs on cerebral physiology, notably CMR, CBF, metabolic coupling, and autoregulation. Some specific anesthetic recommendations can be made for certain neurosurgical procedures and pathology based on the effects on physiology.