Functional roles of CREB as a positive regulator in the formation and enhancement of memory.

cAMP response element-binding (CREB) has been known to be an essential transcription factor that activates gene expression required for the formation of long-term memory (LTM) in a wide range of animal models, from nematodes to higher animals such as Aplysia, Drosophila, and rodents. In mammals, various CREB mutant mice have been developed and analyzed. These studies have shown that gain or loss of CREB function improves and impairs, respectively, the formation of LTMs, enabling us to understand the roles of CREB in the formation and enhancement of memory. In this article, the analyses conducted on CREB mutant mice are reviewed with a particular focus on learning and memory formation. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'Memory enhancement'.