Used primarily in pharmacological research to study the effects on the nervous system, particularly in understanding the role of acetylcholine receptors. It acts as a selective agonist for muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, making it valuable in experiments that explore the function of these receptors in various tissues, including the heart, smooth muscles, and glands. Additionally, it is employed in neuroscience to investigate the mechanisms of synaptic transmission and the modulation of neural activity. Its application extends to the development of treatments for conditions like Alzheimer's disease, glaucoma, and certain types of poisoning, where muscarinic receptor activity is a key factor.