RT Journal
A1 Sakata, Jon T.
A1 Alonge, Kimberly M.
A1 Diethorn, Emma J.
A1 Krishnan, Keerthi
A1 Milman, Noah E. P.
A1 Ramsaran, Adam I.
A1 Wan, Xinghaoyun
A1 Sorg, Barbara A.
T1 Critical Periods and Beyond: Dynamic Functions of Perineuronal Nets in Cognition, Development, and Disease
JF The Journal of Neuroscience 
JO The Journal of Neuroscience 
YR 2025 
FD November 12 
VO 45 
IS 46 
DO 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1367-25.2025 
UL http://www.jneurosci.org/content/45/46/e1367252025.abstract 
AB First discovered by Golgi, perineuronal nets (PNNs) are extracellular matrices that surround various neuron types in the nervous system. They have been found to emerge at the end of developmental critical periods and serve as “molecular brakes” on plasticity. Perineuronal nets have traditionally been studied in the context of sensory and cognitive plasticity, but recent studies extend their contributions to brain plasticity involved in substance use disorders, metabolism, neurodegeneration, and more. This review will summarize recent discoveries about the functions of PNNs across diverse circuits, contexts, and species, across different stages of life, and between disease and nondisease states and will integrate fundamental and clinical studies to identify conserved and novel functions of PNNs. Given the recent map of extensive PNN expression, we hope to encourage investigators researching diverse neural systems to examine PNN contributions to circuit function and behavior.