Acknowledgement:

This thesis is a result of a long journey. The work has been mostly carried out in Research Unit of GE Healthcare Finland Oy during 2000-07. The first steps of this work was already taken in Department of Anesthesiology, Oulu University Hospital, Finland in 1999-2000. I wish to express my gratitude to professor Pekka Meril ainen for providing me the opportunity for this thesis work and for his support during all these years. Pekka has been acting as my manager in GE Healthcare as well as my supervisor in Helsinki University of Technology. Hanna Vierti o-Oja, D.Sc. (Tech.), is appreciated of instruction she has offered in the scientific field of anesthetic depth monitoring as well as significant help in the final steps of this thesis. Pre-examiners professor Pasi Karjalainen and docent Ilkka Korhonen are appreciated for their valuable comments. From the years in Oulu, professor Tapio Sepp anen is acknowledged for introducing me the interesting world of signal processing and docent Ville J antti for familiarizing me with the odd-looking waveforms called EEG. I am grateful to professor Seppo Alahuhta, head of Department of Anesthesiology for his positive attitude toward this thesis project. Anne Vakkuri, M.D., Ph.D., is appreciated for her significant role in the development of Entropy monitor as well as scientific advises considering the publication of wavelet subband entropy. Professor Arvi Yli-Hankala is acknowledged for his pioneering work in the field of anesthesia EEG that, among others results, led to the development of Entropy monitor and wavelet subband entropy. Docent Mark van Gils and mr. Miikka Ermes, M.Sc. (Tech.), both from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland are appreciated for the co-operation in the development of wavelet subband entropy. Part of this thesis work has been conducted in collaboration with Turku PET Centre and Turku University Hospital, Finland. It was pleasure to work with this enthusiastic research group that has offered in-depth understanding of anesthesia mechanisms. Especially, I wish to express my gratitude to professor Harry Scheinin, docent Satu J a askel ainen, and mrs. Anu Maksimow, M.D., Ph.D. Anu has a major contribution for this thesis as being the first author of two publications.