The Hemmings and Platholi Labs seek to understand the mechanisms of general anesthetic actions on synaptic transmission. We study these effects at the molecular, cellular, functional, and behavioral levels in isolated nerve terminals, brain slices, cultured cells and neurons, and animal models using molecular probes and optogenetic biosensors. Techniques include fluorescence imaging of exocytosis and Ca²⁺ dynamics, time-lapse imaging of dendritic spines, in vivo neural ensemble activity using fiber photometry, and electrophysiological approaches.