Propofol is widely used in the induction and maintenance of clinical anesthesia and sedation of severe patients because of its several properties including a rapid onset of action as well as rapid and complete recovery. Long‑term potentiation (LTP) is a persistent potentiation phenomenon occurring in the transmission of neuronal information and is currently widely identified as one of the underlying mechanisms for learning and memory. Studies have shown that propofol might impair long‑term potentiation, thereby affecting memory function. In this review, the possible mechanism of propofol's influence on long‑term potentiation is summarized, which is expected to provide a reference for further exploration of rational use of propofol.