The field of chemical neurobiology is providing insights into the molecules and interactions involved in neuronal development, sensory perception, and memory storage. In this talk, I will describe the development of chemical tools to understand how glycosaminoglycans contribute to neuroplasticity – the ability of the brain to adapt and form new neural connections. By combining synthetic organic chemistry, biochemistry, cell biology, and neurobiology, we have shown that specific sulfation motifs within these polysaccharides regulate signaling events that underlie processes such as axon regeneration, synaptic plasticity, and the formation of neural circuits.