Objective To investigate the effects of propofol and thiopental sodium on intrinsic optical imaging intensity of macaques. Methods Six macaques were divided into propofol group and  thiopental sodium group, with 3 macaques in each group. Intramuscular injection of 15 mg/(kg·h) ketamine was performed for anesthesia induction in two groups, and 1.5 mg/(kg·h) thiopental sodium, 0.15 mg/(kg·h) vecuronium, 1%-2% isoflurane, 0.5-2 L/min nitroxide and 1-2 L/min oxygen were used to maintain anesthesia in thiopental sodium group, while 5 mg/(kg·h) propofol, 0.15 mg/(kg·h) vecuronium, 1%-2% isoflurane, 0.5-2 L/min nitroxide and 1-2 L/min oxygen were used to maintain anesthesia in propofol group, and  the vital signs of macaques were recorded. Macaques in two groups were treated with visual stimulus of sinusoidal grating, with the direction of 0° and 90°, visual cortex imaging signals of macaques were detected, and mean imaging intensity was calculated. Results There was no significant difference in heart rates, oxygen saturation, end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure, temperature and mean imaging intensity between two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion There is no significant difference in intrinsic optical imaging intensity between thiopental sodium and propofol.