Modulation of Auditory Novelty Processing by Dexmedetomidine and Natural Sleep: A Human Intracranial Electrophysiology Study

Kirill V Nourski; Mitchell Steinschneider; Ariane E Rhone; Rashmi N Mueller; Matthew I Banks

doi:10.1111/ejn.70181

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Modulation of Auditory Novelty Processing by Dexmedetomidine and Natural Sleep: A Human Intracranial Electrophysiology Study

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Modulation of Auditory Novelty Processing by Dexmedetomidine and Natural Sleep: A Human Intracranial Electrophysiology Study

Kirill V Nourski, Mitchell Steinschneider, Ariane E Rhone, Rashmi N Mueller and Matthew I Banks

The European journal of neuroscience, Vol.62(1), e70181

07/2025

DOI: 10.1111/ejn.70181

PMCID: PMC12256162

PMID: 40653365

Appears in UI Libraries Support Open Access

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Abstract

Identifying neural signatures of loss of consciousness is a major goal of neuroscience. The local/global auditory novelty paradigm has been useful in characterizing sensory processing across arousal states. Propofol suppresses responses to long-term novelty (global deviance, GD) at subhypnotic doses; suppression of responses to short-term novelty (local deviance, LD) outside auditory cortex may represent a biomarker of loss of consciousness. Dexmedetomidine is an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist that induces sleep-like sedation. This study examined whether the changes in auditory novelty processing observed with propofol, a GABA-ergic agent, also occur with dexmedetomidine and during sleep. Intracranial recordings were obtained in neurosurgical patients undergoing monitoring for refractory epilepsy. Stimuli were vowel sequences incorporating LD and GD. Neural activity was recorded during wakefulness, administration of dexmedetomidine, and sleep and was examined as the averaged evoked potential (AEP) and high gamma (70-150 Hz) power. AEP responses were more broadly distributed than high gamma activity. Results previously observed with propofol were replicated with dexmedetomidine. Subhypnotic doses led to decreased LD effects and a precipitous decline in GD effects. Loss of responsiveness was associated with loss of LD effects outside the auditory cortex. Likewise, daytime sleep was associated with cessation of GD effects and confinement of LD effects to the auditory cortex. Results support the generalizability of changes in auditory novelty processing to dexmedetomidine and sleep. Preservation of LD effects in the auditory cortex indicates that the auditory cortex continues to monitor the environment following loss of responsiveness.

Acoustic Stimulation

Adult

Auditory Cortex - drug effects

Auditory Cortex - physiology

Auditory Perception - drug effects

Auditory Perception - physiology

Dexmedetomidine - pharmacology

Electrocorticography

Evoked Potentials, Auditory - drug effects

Female

Humans

Hypnotics and Sedatives - pharmacology

Male

Middle Aged

Propofol - pharmacology

Sleep - drug effects

Sleep - physiology

Wakefulness - drug effects

Wakefulness - physiology

Young Adult

UIOWA OA Agreement

Details

Title: Subtitle: Modulation of Auditory Novelty Processing by Dexmedetomidine and Natural Sleep: A Human Intracranial Electrophysiology Study
Creators: Kirill V Nourski - University of Iowa
Mitchell Steinschneider - Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Ariane E Rhone - University of Iowa
Rashmi N Mueller - University of Iowa
Matthew I Banks - University of Wisconsin–Madison
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: The European journal of neuroscience, Vol.62(1), e70181
DOI: 10.1111/ejn.70181
PMID: 40653365
PMCID: PMC12256162
NLM abbreviation: Eur J Neurosci
ISSN: 0953-816X
eISSN: 1460-9568
Publisher: Wiley
Grant note: R01-GM109086 / NIGMS NIH HHS R01-DC04290 / NIDCD NIH HHS UL1-RR024979 / NCRR NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 07/2025
Academic Unit: Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Anesthesia; Neurosurgery
Record Identifier: 9984848116602771

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