[5][6] Neurocan is a member of the lectican / chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan protein families and consists of neurocan core protein and chondroitin sulfate.

It is thought to be involved in the modulation of cell adhesion and migration.

[6] Neurocan is a significant component of the extracellular matrix, and its levels are modulated by a variety of factors, but mice in which the NCAN gene has been knocked out show no easily observable defects in brain development or behavior.

[7] However, a genome-wide association study published in 2011 identified Neurocan as a susceptibility factor for bipolar disorder.

In the mice, the absence of functional Neurocan resulted in a variety of manic-like behaviors, which could be normalized by administering lithium.