Background Many neurotransmitters and relative receptors are involved in the complicated mechanisms of general anesthetics, which are also the modulative targets of synaptic plasticity pathways, leading to various effects on learning and memory in central nervous system. Content To review the relationship between general anesthetics and synaptic plasticity. Objective A growing number of studies have resulted in some reasonable explanations about the mechanisms of general anesthetics. Trend It would be useful for the development and application of suitable general anesthetics and reducing the incidence of intraoperative awareness and postoperative cognitive dysfunction.