Cortical neural oscillations and neurodynamics generated by general anesthesia are intimately associated, and electroencephalography (EEG) has been used to study the electrical activity of the cerebral cortex during anesthesia in great detail. Characteristic alterations in neural oscillations during anesthesia provide a perspective into the neural mechanisms of general anesthesia. Increasing evidence supports a quantitative relationship between neural oscillations and the depth of anesthesia. Some scientists have even proposed that specific patterns of brain electrical oscillations could serve as neurobiological markers for unconsciousness induced by anesthesia. Alpha oscillations (8-12 Hz) have been linked to cognitive performance while alpha anteriorization is a characteristic change caused by certain anesthetic drugs. Studying the relationship between neural oscillations and general anesthesia will strengthen our understanding of how anesthesia induces changes in consciousness. This review provides new insights into the investigation of the mechanisms of consciousness (unconsciousness) occurrence by methodically reviewing the origins, properties, and alpha oscillation features of systemic anesthetics that are frequently used in clinical practice. It also discusses the potential neural oscillation mechanisms of systemic anesthetics.