Animal experiments indicate that barbiturates induce these effects primarily by depression of the reticular activating system in the rostral brainstem. Anxiolytic drugs are intended to reduce anxiety or tension at doses which do not cause sedation or sleep. Propanediols may depress deactivating centers in the caudal brainstem, thereby releasing the activating centers in the rostral brainstem and depressing the thalamic recruiting response. These drugs may also act on the amygdala.
Benzodiazepines have depressant effects on the amydala or hippocampus.
These effects may release the reticular formation from inhibition. Sedative and anxiolytic agents also have central relaxant effects. The barbiturates act directly on the spinal cord, depressing both monosynaptic and polysynaptic reflexes. Propanediols and benzodiazepines act primarily on the descending facilitatory influence of the brainstem. Reduction of this influence depresses spinal polysynaptic but not monosynaptic reflexes.