Final answer:
Benzodiazepines enhance the inhibitory effects of GABA by increasing the activity of GABA receptors, causing hyperpolarization of the neuronal cell membrane which suppresses neuronal excitability.
Step-by-step explanation:
When benzodiazepines bind to their receptor site, they enhance the inhibitory effects of GABA (gamma-Aminobutyric acid). This occurs because benzodiazepines work by promoting the activity of GABA receptors in the brain, leading to increased influx of chloride ions into neurons, which, in turn, hyperpolarizes the cell membrane, making it less likely for the neuron to fire. It is through this mechanism that benzodiazepines produce their sedative, anxiolytic, and anticonvulsant effects. Unlike barbiturates, which can increase the duration of GABA channel opening, benzodiazepines increase the frequency of GABA channel openings, leading to an enhanced overall inhibitory effect on neural activity.