A ligand for α1 subunit-containing GABAA receptors; inhibits spontaneous motor activity and increases duration of sleep in mice (ED50s = 0.13 and 1.2 mg/kg, respectively); selectively inhibits spontaneous motor activity, which is driven by α1 subunit-containing GABAA receptors, over modification of muscular tone in mice, an α2 subunit-containing GABAA receptor-stimulated activity; decreases latency to SWS and PS in mice (0.13 and 1.2 mg/kg)