- "The development of the nervous system in humans, or neural development or neurodevelopment involves the studies of embryology, developmental biology, and neuroscience..."
The changes in the brain that occur throughout development, including the growth of neurons and the development of neural networks.
Neuroplasticity: The brain's ability to change and adapt in response to new experiences and learning.
Neuron Structure: The basic building blocks of the brain and their fundamental structure and function.
Brain Mapping Techniques: Methods used to identify and map different areas and structures within the brain.
Brain Development Milestones: The stages of brain development and the skills and abilities that emerge at each stage.
Brain Structures and Functions: The various regions of the brain and their specific roles in perception, cognition, and behavior.
Neurotransmitters: Chemical messengers that transmit signals within the brain and between the brain and the rest of the body.
Hormones and Brain Development: The role of hormones in brain development, particularly during critical periods.
Synaptic Pruning: The selective elimination of unused neural connections that occurs during brain development.
Sleep and Brain Development: The importance of sleep in brain development and learning.
Maternal Health and Brain Development: The impact of maternal health and prenatal care on fetal brain development.
Environmental Influences on Brain Development: How environmental factors such as stress, nutrition, and toxins can impact brain development.
Early Childhood Development: The critical period of brain development that occurs during the first years of life and the importance of early experiences for later outcomes.
Genetics and Brain Development: The role of genetics in determining brain structure and function.
Cognitive Development: The development of cognitive skills such as language, memory, and problem-solving.
Social and Emotional Development: The development of social and emotional skills and the role of relationships in brain development.
Adolescent Brain Development: The unique challenges and opportunities of brain development during adolescence.
Aging and Brain Development: The changes that occur in the brain as we age and the impact on cognitive and emotional functioning.
Brain Plasticity and Rehabilitation: The potential for brain plasticity to support recovery and rehabilitation after injury or illness.
Brain Development and Education: How understanding brain development can inform educational practices and interventions.
Brain Development and Mental Health: The relationship between brain development and mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and ADHD.
Neural proliferation: This is the stage where neural cells rapidly divide, resulting in the formation of the brain.
Neural migration: During this stage, the neural cells move to their respective locations to form different regions of the brain.
Neural differentiation: At this stage, neural cells acquire their specific functions and differentiate into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes.
Synaptogenesis: The formation of connections between neurons via synapses, which allows for communication between neurons.
Myelination: This stage involves the development of the myelin sheath around axons, which increases the speed of electrical signals traveling through the brain.
Synaptic pruning: The elimination of unused synapses and strengthening of active synapses, which refines brain circuitry and improves efficiency.
Apoptosis: This is the process of programmed cell death that occurs in certain brain regions, allowing the brain to fine-tune its connectivity and eliminate redundant or non-functional cells.
Neurogenesis: The development of new nerve cells in certain areas of the brain, such as the hippocampus, which is important for learning and memory.
Corticalization: This is the process of the outer layer of the brain (cortex) folding and becoming more complex, allowing for increased surface area and cognitive abilities.
Lateralization: The specialization of brain function in either the left or right hemisphere, such as language processing being typically located in the left hemisphere.
- "Some landmarks of neural development in the embryo include the formation and differentiation of neurons from stem cell precursors (neurogenesis); the migration of immature neurons... the outgrowth of axons..."
- "develops during prenatal development, and continues to develop postnatally."
- "differentiation, migration and axon guidance to their initial target areas", "generation of synapses", "synaptic pruning... lifelong changes in synapses"
- "Typically, these neurodevelopmental processes can be broadly divided into two classes: activity-independent mechanisms and activity-dependent mechanisms."
- "Activity-independent mechanisms are generally believed to occur as hardwired processes determined by genetic programs played out within individual neurons."
- "differentiation, migration and axon guidance to their initial target areas"
- "Once axons reach their target areas, activity-dependent mechanisms come into play."
- "Neural activity and sensory experience"
- "formation of new synapses, as well as synaptic plasticity"
- "refinement of the nascent neural circuits"
- "played out within individual neurons"
- "to describe the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which the complex nervous system forms in humans"
- "formation and differentiation of neurons from stem cell precursors (neurogenesis)"
- "guidance of the motile growth cone through the embryo towards postsynaptic partners"
- "mediate formation of new synapses... synaptic plasticity"
- "the synaptic pruning that occurs in adolescence"
- "changes in synapses which are thought to underlie learning and memory"
- "the migration of immature neurons from their birthplaces in the embryo to their final positions"
- "generation of synapses between these axons and their postsynaptic partners"