[lightbyte]

>Clearly they can eliminate the local feeling of the surgery

They don't really do this, your brain has no pain receptors so you can't feel what they are doing by default. I do not think they would use any sort of drug to stop people from freaking out as well, because they would imply that the drug is messing with your brain chemistry in some way which can cloud any problems they are trying to notice.

The whole idea behind the awake brain surgery is to quickly notice any changes in cognitive function from the person being operated on.

[yorwba]

I sure hope they apply some local anesthesia so you don't have to feel them saw open your skull. Of course the brain itself doesn't have pain receptors, but the surrounding skin does.