Used primarily in neuroscience research to study the function of GABA_A receptors. Acts as a competitive antagonist at GABA_A receptors, blocking the inhibitory effects of GABA, the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. This blockade leads to increased neuronal excitability, making it a valuable tool for inducing seizures in experimental models to study epilepsy. Also used to investigate synaptic transmission, neural circuitry, and the role of inhibitory signaling in behavior and brain function. Due to its potent convulsant properties, it is not used therapeutically but remains important in laboratory settings for probing the mechanisms of inhibition and excitation in the brain.