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Turns Out General Anesthesia Doesn't Turn Our Brains Off From Processing Sensations After All

A new study suggests that the human brain is still conscious even while under general anesthesia.

Turns Out General Anesthesia Doesn't Turn Our Brains Off From Processing Sensations After All
hoto Essay At The Regional University Hospital Of Lille, Salengro Hospital, Department Of Neurosurgery. (Photo By BSIP/UIG Via Getty Images)

We have all heard horror stories about patients who remember or feel surgeries, even though they were under general anesthesia. While these cases are fairly rare, they shed light on the notion that when it comes to certain general anesthetics, our brains might be in more of a sleep and dreamlike state than previously realized.

Researchers from the University of Turku in Finland have revealed that even under general anesthesia, some parts of the human brain are still able to process sensations from their surrounding environment. This will occur even when the patient cannot recall any of it upon waking.

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