Integrating the Science of Consciousness and Anesthesia
Anesthesia & Analgesia September 19, 2006 DOI: 10.1213/01.ane.0000232442.69757.4a via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractThe nature and mechanism of human consciousness is becoming a central scientific and philosophical question. Once disregarded, the study of consciousness has regained legitimacy. Research on consciousness and general anesthesia is converging. This article introduces the study of consciousness, describes neural correlates that may be targets of anesthetics, and proposes an integrated approach to the science of consciousness and anesthesia.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Medicine Legitimacy Subject documents Cognitive science Epistemology |
| Citations | 135 |
| Key finding | The investigation of consciousness and the mechanisms of general anesthesia have begun to converge, suggesting an integrated approach to both fields. |
Abstract
The nature and mechanism of human consciousness is emerging as one of the most important scientific and philosophical questions of the 21st century. Disregarded as a subject of serious inquiry throughout most of the 20th century, it has now regained legitimacy as a scientific endeavor. The investigation of consciousness and the mechanisms of general anesthesia have begun to converge. In the present article I provide an introduction to the study of consciousness, describe the neural correlates of consciousness that may be targets of general anesthetics, and suggest an integrated approach to the science of consciousness and anesthesia.