To how many GABA receptors do nonbenzodiazepines attach?

Nonbenzodiazepines, often referred to as Z-drugs, primarily attach to a specific subtype of the GABA receptor known as the GABA-A receptor. This receptor is a ligand-gated ion channel that, when activated, leads to an influx of chloride ions into the neuron, resulting in hyperpolarization and inhibition of neuronal firing.

In the context of this question, the correct answer indicates that nonbenzodiazepines bind to a single site on the GABA-A receptor complex. They specifically enhance the effect of the neurotransmitter GABA, leading to increased inhibitory signaling in the central nervous system. This modulation occurs primarily at the benzodiazepine site on the GABA-A receptor, but these drugs do not act on multiple independent receptor types simultaneously in terms of their primary mechanism of action.

Understanding this as a single-point interaction helps clarify why nonbenzodiazepines are effective anxiolytics, sedatives, and sleep aids, as they utilize the existing GABAergic system without the complexities of affecting multiple receptor subtypes at once.