Studies on the extactability of gangliosides with various solvents have indicated a new behavioral feature of gangliosides concerning nonpolar solvents. It was shown, contrary to previous understandings, that gangliosides have an affinity for hexane as a nonpolar solvent. Among the three solvents studied, the highest recovery of gangliosides was indicated with hexane compared to methylene chloride and chloroform. It is believed that the nonpolar alkyl chain of hexane and various alkyl chains of the fatty acids on gangliosides exhibit a mutual affinity, leading to enhanced extractability. Recoveries of gangliosides were also enhanced by the addition of TEA to the extracting solvent. It appears that positive and negative forces of attractions on both molecules are factors which play a role on the recovery of gangliosides during extraction.