What is the primary mechanism of action for benzodiazepines at the molecular level?
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Correct answer: Increasing the frequency of GABA-mediated chloride channel opening
Benzodiazepines act as positive allosteric modulators of the GABA-A receptor. They increase the frequency of channel opening in the presence of GABA, but unlike barbiturates, they cannot significantly activate the receptor without the endogenous neurotransmitter.
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