Methods and compositions for modulating the axonal outgrowth of central nervous system neurons are provided. Methods for stimulating the axonal outgrowth of central nervous system neurons following an injury (e.g., stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury, cerebral aneurism, spinal cord injury and the like) and methods for inhibiting the axonal outgrowth of central nervous system neurons in conditions such as epilepsy, e.g., posttraumatic epilepsy, and neuropathic pain syndrome, are also provided. These methods generally involve contacting the central nervous system neurons with a compound that modulates the activity of N-kinase, or analog thereof. The methods and compositions are particularly useful for modulating the axonal outgrowth of mammalian central nervous system neurons, such as mammalian cortical neurons or retinal ganglion cells. Pharmaceutical and packaged formulations that include the compounds of the invention that modulate the activity of N-kinase are also provided.