Methods are provided that are useful in assaying compounds for cognitive enhancing properties, anxiolytic properties, hypnotic properties, or antidepressant properties. These methods involve determining the in vitro efficacy and EC.sub.50 of the compounds at defined series of cloned GABA.sub.A subtype receptors composed of specific variants of .alpha., .beta., and .gamma. subunits in order to develop and an activity profile for each compound. Optionally, the binding affinities of the compounds at GABA.sub.A receptors are also determined. As an additional step the in vivo effects of the compounds may be tested in animal models.