What stage of sleep are you in under anesthesia, and why does it feel like no time has passed?
In: Biology
General anesthesia does not produce sleep. Sleep is actually a pretty active state and general anesthesia produces greatly reduced levels of brain waves and also ceases production of others. Most brainstem functions remain intact and can be manipulated depending on the depth of anesthesia. Higher level functions such as memory formation, sensation, processing, and response are stopped. Basically you can crudely divide the brain into response and staying alive functions (brain stem and lower centers) and higher level responses. General anesthesia unplugs the higher functions while generally keeping the bodily functions running. We do have to manipulate some functions with medications or lowering the level of anesthetic being delivered.
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