Acts as a 'third messenger' substrate of protein kinase C-mediated molecular cascades during synaptic development and remodeling. Binds to calmodulin in the absence of calcium (By similarity). In the cerebral cortex, found in the cell bodies of neurons in layers II-VI, and in apical and basal dendrites of pyramidal neurons. Is not found in the dendrites in patients with Alzheimer disease. Neurogranin is intrinsically unstructured; however, upon binding with CaM, The IQ domain adopts a helical conformation. Phosphorylated at Ser-36 by PHK and PKC, phosphorylation prevents interaction with Calmodulin and interrupts several learning- and memory-associated functions. Belongs to the neurogranin family.