Neuroreport
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The effect of neuromuscular block on the anaesthetic depth of hypnosis is an elusive question. We simultaneously investigated the influence of neuromuscular block on the bispectral index, a measure of hypnosis during general anaesthesia, and on the electroencephalogram. ⋯ Neuromuscular block significantly attenuated the effect from noxious stimulation on electroencephalogram power and synchrony in the gamma band (P<0.05), and the corresponding effect on bispectral index (P<0.02). These findings are probably due to the reduced arousing afferent input from paralysed muscles, and not to changes in the frontal electromyogram.