Picrotoxin is primarily used in neuroscience and pharmacological research due to its ability to block GABA receptors. It serves as a potent non-competitive antagonist, inhibiting the action of GABA, the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. This property makes it valuable for studying the role of GABAergic signaling in various neurological processes, including seizures, anxiety, and sleep regulation. In experimental settings, picrotoxin is often used to induce convulsions in animal models to study epilepsy and to evaluate the efficacy of anticonvulsant drugs. Additionally, it is employed in electrophysiological studies to investigate synaptic transmission and neuronal excitability. Its use is strictly confined to research and laboratory applications, as it is highly toxic and not suitable for therapeutic purposes.