Table 1. Summary of the behaviors, physiological responses, and neural circuits for the actions of GABA_A agonists^a.

Drugs	Behaviors and physiological responses	Possible neural circuit mechanism	Receptors

Propofol, Etomidate, Thiopental, Methohexital	Unconsciousness and sedation	Potentiation of GABAergic interneurons in the cortex, the thalamic reticular nucleus, and the arsousal centers in the midbrain and pons	GABA_A
	Seizures	Potentiation of GABAergic interneurons locally in the cortex

	Apnea	GABAergic inhibition of brain stem respiratory control areas (ventral medulla)

	Atonia	Inhibition of the pontine and medullary reticular nuclei that control antigravity muscles and inhibition of spinal motor neurons
	Myoclonus	Possible effects on primary motor pathways

	Loss of corneal and oculocephalic reflexes	GABAergic inhibition in the brain stem of the oculomotor, abducens and trochlear nuclei, the trigeminal nuclei, and the motor nuclei of the seventh cranial nerve

Abbreviations: GABA_A, gamma aminobutyric acid type A.

Table 1. Summary of the behaviors, physiological responses, and neural circuits for the actions of GABAA agonistsa.