EGR1 and brain injury: This likely accommodates the essential role of Egr1 indirectly controlling the expression of other genes, and thereby, neural activity, neural plasticity, and learning (Knapska & Kaczmarek, 2004), similar to the implied role of Egr1 gene in inflammation, myocardial injury (Rayner et al., 2013), brain injuries following transient focal ischemia (Tureyen, Brooks, Bowen, Svaren, & Vemuganti, 2008) or permanent occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (Beck, Semisch, Culmsee, Plesnila, & Hatzopoulos, 2008).