Aims: Human subcortical arousal networks are currently being surgically targeted across trials, aiming to ameliorate consciousness state. Clinically available implantable devices impose frequency cut-offs below 50Hz, while other experimental platforms only allow for streaming from a single dipole at a time. Therefore, exploring state-related bilateral symmetrical patterns of activation in frequencies ranging to low gamma, might offer insights to salient options for detection of frequency-dependent activity. Methods: We recorded bilateral continuous data from two externalized cases of brainstem implants, under propofol-induced general anaesthesia (GA) and quiet wakefulness. Data was additionally scored for state identification based on simultaneously acquired EEG characteristics. Using a peer-reviewed, auto-correlation approach for oscillatory biomarker detection across dipoles, we identified symmetrical patterns of regional activation occurring over the 1/f. Finally, we examined frequencies detected during single dipole streaming in GA and wake in a third patient, implanted with a different device platform. Results: Bilateral, symmetrical regional activation patterns with GA predominance centered around the alpha (8-12Hz) frequency range, while wake was stably characterized by the presence of gamma (20-15Hz) oscillations. The latter was the main statistically significant result for pooled contacts in the pedunculopontine region (p<0.01). When the algorithm was applied to short streamed snapshots on the third case, statistically significant dominant frequencies occurred in the 20-45Hz range during wake. Conclusions: Low gamma human brainstem oscillations may reliably differentiate across GA and wake states. This finding is consistent with prior work comparing sleep and wake, as well as supported by evidence from non-human literature.