Unlike membrane-bound molecules, secreted factors may regulate synapse formation in a non–cell-autonomous manner over a wide target area. Target-derived molecules—such as Wnt7A 6 and FGF22 (ref.

Dr. Rudnicki and his team discovered the exosome-targeting postal code or zip code within a protein called Wnt7a, which plays a critical role in development, growth, regeneration and cancer.

Living in a stimulating environment has cognitive benefits for humans and animals alike, and hippocampal neurons in particular show structural plasticity in response to environmental manipulations.