Neural activity and immediate early gene expression in the cerebral cortex

Immediate early gene (IEG) expression is dynamically regulated in brain neu rons, in response to natural activity, and linked to neural plasticity. Bec ause of the demonstrated importance of synaptic activity in neuronal functi on and development, it is anticipated that IEGs contribute to adult and dev elopmental cortical plasticity. The IEG response includes proteins that fun ction as transcription factors, as well as enzymes and growth factor protei ns that can directly modify neuronal and synaptic function. An understandin g of the mechanistic contribution of the IEG response to neuronal plasticit y will provide information not only about basic developmental processes, an d their disturbances in mental retardation, but may also contribute to new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for these developmental disorders. (C ) 1999 Wiley-Liss. Inc.