Lateralisation of subcortical functional connectivity during and after general anaesthesia Journal Article


Authors: Nir, T.; Raizman, R.; Meningher, I.; Jacob, Y.; Huang, K. H.; Schwartz, A. E.; Brallier, J. W.; Ahn, H.; Kundu, P.; Tang, C. Y.; Delman, B. N.; McCormick, P. J.; Scarpa, J.; Sano, M.; Deiner, S. G.; Livny, A.; Baxter, M. G.; Mincer, J. S.
Article Title: Lateralisation of subcortical functional connectivity during and after general anaesthesia
Abstract: Background: Arousal and awareness are two important components of consciousness states. Functional neuroimaging has furthered our understanding of cortical and thalamocortical mechanisms of awareness. Investigating the relationship between subcortical functional connectivity and arousal has been challenging owing to the relatively small size of brainstem structures and thalamic nuclei, and their depth in the brain. Methods: Resting state functional MRI scans of 72 healthy volunteers were acquired before, during, 1 h after, and 1 day after sevoflurane general anaesthesia. Functional connectivity of subcortical regions of interest vs whole brain and homotopic functional connectivity for assessment of left–right symmetry analyses of both cortical and subcortical regions of interest were performed. Both analyses used high resolution atlases generated from deep brain stimulation applications. Results: Functional connectivity in subcortical loci within the thalamus and of the ascending reticular activating system was sharply restricted under anaesthesia, featuring a general lateralisation of connectivity. Similarly, left–right homology was sharply reduced under anaesthesia. Subcortical bilateral functional connectivity was not fully restored after emergence from anaesthesia, although greater restoration was seen between ascending reticular activating system loci and specific thalamic nuclei thought to be involved in promoting and maintaining arousal. Functional connectivity was fully restored to baseline by the following day. Conclusions: Functional connectivity in the subcortex is sharply restricted and lateralised under general anaesthesia. This restriction may play a part in loss and return of consciousness. Clinical trial registration: NCT02275026. © 2021 British Journal of Anaesthesia
Keywords: fmri; consciousness; thalamus; arousal; reticular formation; anaesthesia; subcortex
Journal Title: British Journal of Anaesthesia
Volume: 128
Issue: 1
ISSN: 0007-0912
Publisher: Oxford University Press  
Date Published: 2022-01-01
Start Page: 65
End Page: 76
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/j.bja.2021.08.033
PROVIDER: scopus
PUBMED: 34802696
PMCID: PMC8787782
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 3 January 2022 -- Source: Scopus
Altmetric
Citation Impact
BMJ Impact Analytics
MSK Authors
  1. Joshua Samuel Mincer
    23 Mincer