Recently, I was lucky enough to assist in (who am I kidding…obstruct) a sleep and anaesthesia study aimed at monitoring participants by Electroencephalogram (EEG) in various states of consciousness. The study, run by Dr Katie Warnaby of The Anaesthesia Neuroimaging Research Group at The Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, makes use of both EEG and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). The research aim is to learn about the effects anaesthesia has on the brain and and in so doing help us both understand ourselves and understand how to most effectively monitor patients undergoing surgery.