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Activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc) is known for its pivotal role in synaptic plasticity and its rapid transcriptional response to neuronal activity. However, the precise neuronal activity patterns that initiate Arc transcription have remained elusive due to the challenges of observing mRNA transcription in live cells in real time. Kim et al. (LearnMem a054024.124) analyzed the intricate relationship between neural activity patterns and Arc transcription using a novel genetically encoded RNA indicator (GERI) mouse model that allows real-time observation of endogenous Arc mRNA transcription in live cells. Their findings reveal a striking correlation between specific stimulation patterns and the rate of Arc transcription, with theta burst stimulation at 10 Hz eliciting the most robust transcriptional response, closely linked to peak nuclear calcium transients. This study not only advances our understanding of the complex interplay between neuronal activity and gene expression, but also introduces a new approach studying transcriptional dynamics in living neurons. (Cover art designed and created by Kate Zvorykina.)