title: Sedative doses of propofol increase beta activity of the processed electroencephalogram.
abstract: The effects of sedative infusions of propofol on the processed electroencephalograms (EEG) of eight healthy male volunteers were studied. EEG data for aperiodic analysis were collected during three 5-min periods: before propofol, during propofol infusion, and 30 min after termination of the infusion. After an initial dose of 1 mg/kg, subjects received a propofol infusion titrated to produce a standard level of conscious sedation. The infusion rate was 84 +/- 27 micrograms.kg-1 x min-1 (mean +/- SE) and plasma propofol levels were 2180 +/- 43 ng/mL. Total EEG power, defined as the sum of the squares of peak-to-peak amplitudes during each 5-s epoch, increased from 1350 +/- 295 microV2 x epoch-1 to 9675 +/- 2390 microV2 x epoch-1 during the propofol infusion (P < 0.05); it returned to 1445 +/- 145 microV2 x epoch-1 30 min after the infusion was discontinued (P < 0.05 vs the result during propofol). The change in total power was accompanied by a change in the distribution of power within the EEG spectrum, as the fraction of activity in the beta-band (12-35 Hz) increased during the infusion from 23% +/- 3% to 44% +/- 5% (P < 0.05). Thirty minutes after the infusion was terminated, the distribution of activity within the EEG spectrum had reverted to pre-propofol patterns. The similarity of EEG effects seen with sedative doses of propofol and benzodiazepines suggests that these drugs may share some neurochemical effects.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington 06030-2015.
authors: H A
authors: HA
authors: Seifert
authors: R T
authors: RT
authors: Blouin
authors: P F
authors: PF
authors: Conard
authors: J B
authors: JB
authors: Gross
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001611:Beta Rhythm / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D015742:Propofol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D015742:Propofol