title: Increased precuneus connectivity during propofol sedation.
abstract: Using functional magnetic resonance imaging in human participants, we show that sedation by propofol to the point of lost overt responsiveness during the performance of an auditory verbal memory task unexpectedly increases functional connectivity of the precuneus with cortical regions, particularly the dorsal prefrontal and visual cortices. After recovery of consciousness, functional connectivity returns to a pattern similar to that observed during the wakeful baseline. In the context of a recent proposal that highlights the uncoupling of consciousness, connectedness, and responsiveness in general anesthesia, the increased precuneus functional connectivity under propofol sedation may reflect disconnected endogenous mentation or dreaming that continues at a reduced level of metabolic activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Xiaolin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Shi-Jiang
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA. Electronic address: ahudetz@mcw.edu.
authors.forename: Anthony G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Hudetz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D054810:Deep Sedation; D005260:Female; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015742:Propofol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014705:Verbal Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D015742:Propofol
keywords: Anesthesia; Auditory verbal memory task; Functional magnetic resonance imaging; Precuneus connectivity; Propofol sedation