Specific binding members particularly human antibodies particularly recombinant antibodies and fragments thereof which are capable of binding to and recognizing neurons in the CNS and eliciting responses in CNS neurons are provided. The antibodies are useful for neuroprotection and in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions associated with nerve damage injury or degeneration and neurodegenerative disease. The antibodies variable regions or CDR domain sequences thereof and fragments thereof of the invention may also be used in therapy in combination with chemotherapeutics immune modulators or neuroactive agents and/or with other antibodies or fragments thereof. Antibodies are exemplified by the antibodies lgM12 and lgM42 whose sequences are provided herein.
