Adults 18 to 40, any sex, with Unconsciousness or Consciousness. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.
Results — posted to ClinicalTrials.gov
Per-arm endpoint measurements with 95% confidence intervals where reported. Source: trial results section.
Occipital Delta Power Spectral Density by Conscious State and Study Group.Primary· Intraoperative (During sedation-- up to 8 hours)
The difference in spontaneous EEG slow wave activity over posterior cortex between states of consciousness measured with high-density EEG equipment and reported in spectral power in the delta band (1-4 Hz) at electrode Oz. Disconnected conscious experience (dreaming), connected conscious experience (awareness of the external world), and unconsciousness (no report) was assessed when participants were roused from sedation or sleep.
Connected Consciousness
Group
Value
95% CI
Dexmedetomidine
2.37
2.31 – 2.46
Ketamine
1.62
1.57 – 1.68
Propofol
2.05
1.94 – 2.15
Sleep
2.1
2.03 – 2.18
Disconnected Consciousness
Group
Value
95% CI
Dexmedetomidine
2.57
2.53 – 2.61
Ketamine
1.7
1.57 – 1.84
Propofol
2.34
2.22 – 2.5
Sleep
2.58
2.52 – 2.65
Unconsciousness
Group
Value
95% CI
Dexmedetomidine
2.68
2.61 – 2.75
Ketamine
1.46
1.16 – 1.83
Propofol
2.51
2.31 – 2.68
Sleep
2.63
2.47 – 2.83
Number of Instances of Disconnected Conscious Experience (Dreaming) vs Connected Conscious Experience (Awareness of External World).Secondary· Intraoperative (During sedation-- up to 8 hours)
The number of instances of disconnected conscious experience (dreaming) versus connected conscious experience (awareness of the external world) during sedation is measured by subject self-report at the time of researcher initiated inquiry.
Instances of Connected Consciousness
Group
Value
95% CI
Dexmedetomidine
70
Ketamine
180
Propofol
56
Instances of Disconnected Consciousness
Group
Value
95% CI
Dexmedetomidine
226
Ketamine
30
Propofol
22
Effect of Study Drug on Ability to Correctly Identify Shapes/ImagesSecondary· Intraoperative (During sedation-- up to 8 hours)
The ability to identify shapes/images in visual illusions measured by the NIH Toolbox. Will be reported by a computed score from NIH Toolbox for the Dimensional Change Card Sort Test (DCCS) and the Flanker Inhibitory Control \& Attention Test (Flanker). Both Flanker and DCCS use a 2-vector scoring method that takes accuracy and reaction time (if accuracy \>=80%) into account, resulting in a computed score that can range in value from 0-10. A higher score indicates better performance on the test.
Baseline NIH Toolbox Card Sorting Score
Group
Value
95% CI
Dexmedetomidine
8.83
± 1.21
Ketamine
9.29
± 0.59
Propofol
9.45
± 0.95
Sedation NIH Toolbox Card Sorting Score
Group
Value
95% CI
Dexmedetomidine
7.85
± 1.49
Ketamine
8.2
± 0.99
Propofol
6.94
± 4.16
Baseline NIH Toolbox Flanker Score
Group
Value
95% CI
Dexmedetomidine
9.14
± 0.67
Ketamine
8.99
± 0.83
Propofol
9.48
± 0.12
Sedation NIH Toolbox Flanker Score
Group
Value
95% CI
Dexmedetomidine
6.62
± 0.88
Ketamine
8.47
± 0.93
Propofol
8.36
± 0.96
Effect of Study Drug on Ability to Correctly Identify ImagesSecondary· Intraoperative (During sedation-- up to 8 hours)
The ability to match sounds and images measured by the predictive coding task. Will be reported by a proportion correct as a decimal.
Baseline Predictive Coding Task Accuracy
Group
Value
95% CI
Dexmedetomidine
0.916
± 0.07
Ketamine
0.899
± 0.07
Propofol
0.91
± 0.09
Sedation Predictive Coding Task Accuracy
Group
Value
95% CI
Dexmedetomidine
0.793
± 0.09
Ketamine
0.763
± 0.1
Propofol
0.734
± 0.15
Effect of Study Drug on Ability to Form Implicit MemorySecondary· Intraoperative (During sedation-- up to 8 hours)
Subjects will have a list of words read to them while under sedation and their ability to hear these words and form implicit memories of them will be assessed using a two-alternative forced choice task. Results will be reported as the average number of correct responses out of sixteen.
Group
Value
95% CI
Dexmedetomidine
8
± 2.47
Ketamine
8.17
± 1.70
Propofol
9
± 1.58
Adverse events — posted to ClinicalTrials.gov
Time frame: 24 hours after drug or sleep visit..
Reporting threshold: 0%.
Adverse-event reports describe events observed during the trial — not all are caused by the drug.
This study will be a single-site, controlled, unblinded study at the University of Wisconsin to examine changes in the electroencephalogram during anesthesia and waking.
Publications & conference data
8 peer-reviewed publications reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):
NCT06824077 — Reducing Days DELirious With DEXmedetomidine as Part of an Intensive Care Unit Sleep Promotion Bundle
· EARLY_PHASE1
· not yet recruiting
NCT07398066 — DEXmedetomidine for Postoperative Analgesia and Delirium Prevention After NEUROsurgery (DEX-NEURO Trial)
· NA
· not yet recruiting
NCT07377981 — An Exploratory Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Esketamine and Dexmedetomidine in Non-Intubated ICU Patients With Hyp
· Phase 4
· not yet recruiting
NCT07306702 — Dexmedetomidine-Enhanced PCIA After Lobectomy in Nicotine-Dependent Patients
· Phase 4
· withdrawn
NCT07482540 — Role of Dexmedatomidine Drug in Prevention of Atrial Fibrillations Post Mitral Valve Surgery
· NA
· not yet recruiting
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Publications: Europe PMC API search by NCT ID, retrieved 10 June 2026
Drug + disease cross-links: matched in real time against Drug Landscape's normalised drug + company + condition tables
Sponsor: as reported to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of Wisconsin, Madison
Last refreshed: 13 April 2023
Drug Landscape aggregates and links these public records for informational use only. Always verify against the primary source before clinical or regulatory decisions. Canonical URL: https://druglandscape.com/trial/NCT03284307.