Background　Studies of the mechanisms of sleep not only benefits the treatment of sleep disorder related diseases， but also benefits reseachs relating to mechanisms of anesthesia. Studies over the years show that the central cholinergic system plays a great role in the production and maintenance of sleep. At the same time it also takes part in regulating the systemic inflammatory response. General anesthesia is able to cause central nervous systemic inflammatory response， this inflammatory response in turn affects the state of consciousness and sleep.　Objective　Aim of this review is to evaluate effects of central cholinergic system on sleep and inflammatory response.　Content　The regulation effects of central cholinergic system on sleep and inflammatory response have been introduced in details.　Trend　The central cholinergic system is a bridge between sleep/general anesthsian and inflammatory response， therefore controlling it can help to precisely regulate general anesthesia as well as reduce general anesthesia associated side effects， such as negative effects on recognition.