The anesthetic mechanism of propofol has not yet been fully clarified. Neuroimaging technology provides an important way to probe the functional network modulation mechanism of propofol‑induced sedation and hypnosis. This review summarizes the relevant research using these techniques to probe the effects of propofol on local metabolism, blood flow and functional networks of the brain, for clarifying the mechanism of propofol‑induced sedation and hypnosis at the network level.