Postsynthetic modifications of histone and other chromosomal proteins by reversible acetylation and/or methylation regulate many aspects of chromatin dynamics, such as transcription, replication and DNA repair. Aberrant modification states are associated with several neurological and neuromotor diseases. Thus, small molecules that inhibit or activate the enzymes responsible for these chromatin modifications have received considerable attention as potential human therapeutics. This paper summarizes the current state of development of histone deacetylase inhibitors in a variety of neurological diseases.