MRK-016 does not enhance pentylenetetrazole-induced convulsions at 10 mg/kg via ip, or cause seizures at 30 mg/kg, via po for 20 days in mice. MRK-016 shows no obvious anxiogenic-like effects in rats at doses that occupy >95% of benzodiazepine (BZ) binding sites. MRK-016 (0.3, 1, and 3 mg/kg, p.o.) dose-dependently improves performance of rats hippocampal-dependent memory task. MRK-016 (0.3-30 mg/kg, p.o.) causes good receptor occupancy in rats. MRK-016 (0.3, 1, or 3 mg/kg p.o.) shows cognition-enhancing activity in the delayed matching-to-position version of the Morris water maze. MRK-016 (1, 3, or 10 mg/kg i.p.) does not produce kindling in mice. MRK-016 (3 mg/kg, i.p.) protects against LPS-induced learning/memory decrements in mice.