The mortality of neonatal anesthesia is decreasing with the development of anestheisia. Pharmacological blockade of Nmethyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) type glutamate receptors or over stimulation of γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptors has been reported to induce neuron apoptosis in the period of brain peak development. In view of the mechanisms of general anesthetics on central nervous system, the influence of anesthetic agents on brain development becomes the researching focus. Clarifying the mechanisms of anesthetics affecting brain development is very important for the rational use of anesthetics in neonates, as well as for the exploitation of new anesthetics.