Returning From Oblivion

Research finds that after anesthesia, the first brain structures to re-activate are the more primitive deep brain areas, rather than the more "modern" frontal lobe areas hypothesized by the researchers.

Based on my own real-world experience in this area, I would have to say, "well, duh." 

But interesting nonetheless.  Found by way of "Primitive consciousness emerges first as you awaken from anesthesia."  There's a video on that page about a conference, Towards a Science of Consciousness that also sounds very interesting.