Neurodevelopment

Neurodevelopment is the process by which the nervous system forms, organizes, and matures. It begins during embryonic development and continues after birth as the nervous system undergoes structural and functional change. Neurodevelopment includes the production and specialization of neural cells, their organization into specific regions, and the formation and refinement of neural circuits .^1,2

Early neurodevelopment involves processes such as neurulation, the generation of neurons and glial cells, neuronal migration, and the growth of axons and dendrites. Neurons then form synapses with other cells, creating networks through which information can be transmitted. These connections are subsequently strengthened, weakened, or eliminated as neural circuits mature .^1,2

Neurodevelopment continues well beyond the initial formation of the brain. Synaptic refinement, circuit maturation, and myelination continue throughout childhood and, in some brain regions, into adolescence and young adulthood. Different neural systems mature on different schedules, so neurodevelopment is not a single event or a process that ends at birth .¹

Neurodevelopment is broader than brain growth. Growth can refer simply to an increase in size or cell number, whereas neurodevelopment includes changes in cellular identity, connectivity, organization, and function. It is also distinct from neurodevelopmental disorders, which are conditions associated with atypical development or functioning of the nervous system. Neurodevelopment itself refers to the underlying developmental process .^1,2