Burst suppression (BS) is a special electroencephalogram (EEG) pattern in electroencephalographic monitoring,which is usually found in patients under general anesthesia, hypothermia, coma, anoxic or epileptic encephalopathy.The underlying mechanisms remain unclear. At present, the main hypotheses are cortical hyperexcitability and decrease in cerebral metabolic rate. However, the mechanism may be different under various circumstances. This article summarizes the concept of BS, the characteristics of BS under various conditions and the association of BS with patient outcomes.We focus on the research progress of the potential mechanism of BS at the levels of neurons, neural circuits and neural networks. This may provide reference for deep understanding of BS and better guidance for clinical practice.