Despite its widespread use, the mechanism behind general anaesthesia has long puzzled scientists. A recent study, detailed in The Journal of Neuroscience, sheds light on this enigma. Using fruit flies, researchers discovered that anaesthetic drugs selectively target excitatory neurons in the brain, leaving inhibitory neurons unaffected. This specificity hinges on the disruption of protein function crucial for neurotransmitter release. These findings deepen our understanding of how anaesthetics induce and maintain unconsciousness, offering potential avenues for further research into this essential medical practice.