The article reviews the function and regulation of the CREB family of transcription factors in the nervous system. CREB and its relatives are widely recognized as stimulus-inducible transcription factors that play crucial roles in various cellular processes, including development, plasticity, and disease. In neurons, CREB can be activated by a wide range of extracellular stimuli, leading to the induction of gene expression. The review highlights the importance of CREB in neuronal survival, proliferation, differentiation, and synaptic function. It also discusses CREB's role in learning, memory, and addiction, as well as its involvement in circadian rhythms and neuroprotection. The article further explores the signaling pathways that lead to CREB phosphorylation, including cAMP signaling, Ca2+ signaling, and growth factor signaling. Finally, it examines the specificity of CREB-dependent gene expression and the mechanisms by which CREB functions as a stimulus-dependent transcriptional activator.The article reviews the function and regulation of the CREB family of transcription factors in the nervous system. CREB and its relatives are widely recognized as stimulus-inducible transcription factors that play crucial roles in various cellular processes, including development, plasticity, and disease. In neurons, CREB can be activated by a wide range of extracellular stimuli, leading to the induction of gene expression. The review highlights the importance of CREB in neuronal survival, proliferation, differentiation, and synaptic function. It also discusses CREB's role in learning, memory, and addiction, as well as its involvement in circadian rhythms and neuroprotection. The article further explores the signaling pathways that lead to CREB phosphorylation, including cAMP signaling, Ca2+ signaling, and growth factor signaling. Finally, it examines the specificity of CREB-dependent gene expression and the mechanisms by which CREB functions as a stimulus-dependent transcriptional activator.