Solving the enigma of burst suppression.

The neural mechanisms underlying burst suppression during anaesthesia remain poorly understood. A recent study in the British Journal of Anaesthesia used calcium imaging to examine neuronal activity driving burst suppression in both cortical and subcortical structures. The results reveal diverse involvement of cortical excitatory neurones in burst suppression, while distinct interneurone subtypes play varied roles. Parvalbumin neurones in particular are key in modulating these rhythms. These insights will inform anaesthetic management of patients with neurological vulnerabilities.