Transcriptional regulator. Activates E box-dependent transcription in collaboration with TCF3/E47, but the activity is completely antagonized by the negative regulator of neurogenesis HES1. Plays a role in the differentiation of subsets of neural cells by activating E box-dependent transcription (By similarity). . This is the function of ATOH1 (atonal bHLH transcription factor 1, ENSG00000172238).