Gangliosides are a large family of complex lipids that are components of neural cell membranes that are abundantly found in the brain. A ganglioside is a molecule composed of a glycosphingolipid with one or more sialic acids linked on the sugar chain. Gangliosides are structural components of cell membranes, with the two hydrocarbon chains embedded in the plasma membrane and the oligosaccharides located on the extracellular surface, where they provide points of recognition for extracellular substances or surface molecules of the neighboring cells. The oligosaccharide groups act as distinguishing surface markers that play important roles in cell-cell recognition, adhesion, and signaling.