This could be of relevance in neuropsychiatric disorders, such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and schizophrenia, to which NrCAM is linked (Marui et al, 2009; Ayalew et al, 2012) and where neurite outgrowth and branching may be down‐regulated by NrCAM shedding in a process impairing neuronal connectivity. The gene discussed is NRCAM; the disease is schizophrenia.