Research Reveals How Anesthesia Changes Brain Signaling - Technology Networks

Choice of general anesthetic for major surgery can continue to be based on patient and clinician preference, according to the largest-ever trial comparing the two main techniques used in the NHS. The VITAL trial, led by the University of Warwick and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, involved 2,507 patients across 49 NHS hospitals and compared total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA), delivered through a continuous infusion of the drug propofol, with the more traditional method of using volatile anesthetic gases, such as sevoflurane or isoflurane, inhaled through a mask during surgery. The findings are published in the journal JAMA.

Even when a person is fully unconscious under general anesthesia, their brain may still be doing something remarkable: processing language, recognizing patterns, and even anticipating which words will come next. Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have discovered that the brain retains surprisingly sophisticated abilities during anesthesia, despite the absence of conscious awareness. The findings, published in the journal Nature, challenge traditional assumptions about the relationship between consciousness and thinking. They could also provide new insights into how the brain processes memories and language, potentially leading to advances in technologies that help people communicate after neurological injuries.

Here’s your NYT Strands hint for today, plus the spangram and all of today’s Strands answers for puzzle No. 959 on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. Today’s Strands theme was tricky. It helps to be a runner. Read on for all the answers.