Disclosed are heterocyclic compounds of the formula ##STR1##

and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof wherein the variables A, V, Y, J, E, X, T, G, Q, W, Z, b, n and m are defined herein. These compounds are highly selective agonists, antagonists or inverse agonists for GABA_A brain receptors or prodrugs of agonists, antagonists or inverse agonists for GABA_A brain receptor.