Zolpidem reduces the blood oxygen level-dependent signal during visual system stimulation

► Zolpidem is a short-acting non-benzodiazepine hypnotic acting via GABAA receptors. ► The neuronal substrates of zolpidem within the brain are unknown. ► We examined how zolpidem modulates visual system activation during BOLD fMRI. ► Zolpidem reduced robust activation produced by a flashing checkerboard. ► Effects were consistent with GABA-related reductions in the BOLD signal.