What Happens When You Go Under

Prior to invention of anesthesia, surgery was really unpleasant, to put it mildly – surgeons turned to alcohol, narcotics, and even smacking their patients on the head to induce unconsciousness. Fortunately, anesthesia now allows tens of thousands of patients every day to avoid the pain and memories of their procedures. But how does anesthesia work? In this video, Reactions looks at scientists' current understanding of what happens when you go under.

CONTENT PROVIDED BY

American Chemical Society