Using Positron Emission Tomography in Revealing the Mystery of General Anesthesia: Study Design Challenges and Opportunities.

Functional neuroimaging with positron emission tomography (PET) is one of the cornerstones for studying the central nervous system effects of general anesthetics and anesthesia mechanisms. General anesthesia offers a unique and safe way to directly manipulate consciousness, and can thus be used as a powerful research tool to study the neurobiology of human consciousness. In this chapter, we will address the possibilities of PET imaging in revealing the mysteries of general anesthesia and anesthetic induced unconsciousness and summarize some of the recent advancements in the field.