Neurophysiological differences between dexmedetomidine sedation and natural sleep across the rodent lifespan: implications for aging and perioperative brain health
The combination of elevated delta power, high-voltage spikes, suppression of high-frequency activity, and sprawled body posture during dexmedetomidine-induced sedation indicates a state of unconsciousness that is neurophysiologically distinct from natural NREM sleep in mice. These findings highlight important age-related differential responses to dexmedetomidine and help inform its safe and effective use in vulnerable patient populations.
Authors
- Eric D. Melonakos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3643-9838)
- Michael A. Nolan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2581-0814)
- Jinyoung Choi
- D. Kenny Jonathan
- Eileen Crowley (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9545-4384)
- Daniel P. Zachs (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9615-3233)
- Christa J. Nehs (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6708-1656)
- Morgan J. Siegmann
- Rebecca R. Goldblum
- Mohsen Hozan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6753-0768)
- Ashley R. Carpenter
- Emery N. Brown
- Bryton A. Toro
- Fayaz A. Mir
- Christian G. White
- Sarah Toledano
- Arianna R. S. Lark
- Gabriella Cohen
- Channing E. Syme
- Yang Liu
Institutions
- Harvard University (US)
- Massachusetts General Hospital (US)
- Harvard–MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology (US)
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Anesthesiology and Perioperative Science
- Published
- 2026-01-19
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s44254-025-00161-y
- Primary Topic
- Anesthesia and Sedative Agents
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- National Institutes of Health