A new understanding of inert gas narcosis

Zhang Meng^{1, 2}, Gao Yi^{1, †,}, Fang Haiping^{1, ‡,}

(a) Inhibition of luciferase activity at surgical levels of halothane. The curves show luciferase activity as a function of time. (b) The concentration–response curves for anaesthetic-induced loss of consciousness are extremely steep. Panel (a) is reprinted by permission from Nature Publishing Group Ltd: [Nature] (Ref. [39]) copyright (1984). Panel (b) is reprinted by permission from Nature Publishing Group Ltd: [Nature Reviews Neuroscience] (Ref. [42]) copyright (2008).