Development of the Central

Nervous System

an ongoing process, through

adolescence and maybe even adult
hood ?
the nervous system is plastic
Experience plays a key role
Dire consequences when something
goes wrong
- teratogens

- Drugs of abuse, industrial chemicals,

caffeine?,
Stages of Development
Phase Approximate Age Highlight

Prenatal Conception - birth Rapid physical growth

Infancy Birth - 2 yrs Motor development

Childhood 2 - 12 yrs Abstract reasoning
Adolescence 13 - 20 yrs Identity creation,
Judgement

Directly related to maturation of

the Prefrontal Cortex
 Phases of Prenatal
Development
Ovum + sperm
zygote

Once zygote
implants in uterus
embryo

Week 8 until birth

fetus
The University of South Wales, Dr. Mark Hill
 At about 18 days after conception the embryo begins to implant
in the uterine wall.

a. Consists of 3 layers of
cells: endoderm,
mesoderm, and ectoderm.
Thickening of the
ectoderm leads to the
development of the
neural plate

b. The neural groove

begins to develop at 20
days.
c. At 22 days the neural
groove closes along the
length of the embryo
making the neural tube.

d. A few days later 4

major divisions of the
brain are observable
the telencephalon,
diencephalon,
mesencephalon, and
rhombencephalon.
Photographs of Human
Fetal Brain Development

Lateral view of the human

brain shown at one-third size
at several stages of fetal
development. Note the
gradual emergence of gyri
and sulci.
Phases of brain
development
Neural plate induction
Neural proliferation
Migration & Aggregation
Axon growth & Synapse formation
Cell death & Synapse
rearrangement
Induction of the Neural
Plate
2-3 weeks after conception

A patch of tissue on the dorsal surface of

the embryo that will become the nervous
system

Development induced by chemical signals

growth factors: several chemicals produced
in developing and mature brain that stimulate
neuron development and help neurons respond
to injury
Neural Plate
Totipotent (zygote)
Fertilized ovum has ability to divide and produce all
cells of the body (brain, kidney, liver, skin, bone etc.)
Can produce a whole animal

Pluripotent: 5 days after fertilization = blastocyst

forms, some of these cells are embryonicstem cells.
Can be taken and differentiated into any organ ?

With the development of the neural tube, cells

become multipotent
able to develop into any type of mature nervous
system cell
Phases of brain
development
Neural plate induction
Neural proliferation
Migration & Aggregation
Axon growth & Synapse formation
Cell death & Synapse
rearrangement
2. Mitosis/Proliferation

Proliferation
Generation of new cells

3 swellings at the anterior

end in humans will
become the forebrain,
midbrain, and hindbrain

Occurs in ventricular zone

Rate can be 250,000/min
After mitosis daughter
cells become fixed post
mitotic
3. Migration: slow movement to the
right place

Only a soma and immature

axon at this point
-undifferentiated at
start of migration.

But, differentiation begins as

neurons migrate.
They develop
neurotransmitter making
ability, action potential
3. Migration
Radial Glia

Radial glial cells act as

guide wires for the
migration of neurons
Migrating cells are
immature, lacking
dendrites
Cells that are done
migrating align themselves
with others cells and form
structures (Aggregation)
Growth Cones: tips of axons on migrating, immature neurons

Growth cones crawl forward as they

elaborate the axons training behind
them. Their extension is controlled by
chemical cues in their outside
environment that ultimately direct
them toward their appropriate targets.
Chemoattractants
Vs
Chemorepellants
5 Phases of
Neurodevelopment
Neural plate induction
Neural proliferation
Migration & Aggregation
Axon growth & Synapse formation
Cell death & Synapse
rearrangement
 4. Axon
Growth/Synaptogenesis
Once migration is complete and
structures have formed (aggregation),
axons and dendrites begin to grow to
their mature size/shape.
Axons (with growth cones on end)
and dendrites form a synapse with
other neurons or tissue (e.g. muscle)

Growth cones and chemo-attractants

are critical for this.
Synaptogenesis

Formation of new synapses

Depends on the presence of glial cells

especially astrocytes

Chemical signal exchange between pre-

and postsynaptic neurons is needed
5 Phases of
Neurodevelopment
Neural plate induction
Neural proliferation
Migration & Aggregation
Axon growth & Synapse formation
Cell death & Synapse
rearrangement
5. Neuronal Death

Between 40-75% neurons made, will die

after
migration death is normal and
necessary !!
Neurons die due to failure to compete for
chemicals provided by targets

Neurotrophins
promote growth and survival
guide axons
stimulate synaptogenesis
Synaptic rearrangment

Release and uptake Neurons receiving Axonal processes

of neurotrophic insufficient neurotropic complete for limited
factors factor die neurotrophic factor
Synaptic rearrangment, contd:
Myelination

Time after synaptogenesis

Postnatal Cerebral Development
Human Infants
Postnatal growth is a consequence of
Synaptogenesis
Increased dendritic branches
Myelination (prefrontal cortex continues into
adolescence)

Overproduction of synapses may underlie the

greater plasticity of the young brain

Young brain more able to recover function after injury,

as compared to older brain
Early Studies of Experience and
Brain Development

Early visual deprivation

fewer synapses and dendritic spines in
visual cortex
deficits in depth and pattern vision

Enriched environment
thicker cortices
greater dendritic development
more synapses per neuron
Development of the Prefrontal
Cortex

Believed to underlie age-related changes

in cognitive function, judgement,
decision-making

No single theory explains the function of

this area

Prefrontal cortex plays a role in working

memory, planning and carrying out
sequences of actions, and inhibiting
inappropriate responses
Where is your Prefrontal Cortex ?
Postnatal Cerebral
Development: Adolescence
The prefrontal lobe is the last to fully
develop

[Link]
itKWA
Neuroplasticity in Adults ?

Mature brain changes and adapts

Neurogenesis (birth of new neurons)

seen only in olfactory bulb and
hippocampus of adult mammals

Not clear if this is critical for normal

adult behavior
Effects of Experience on the
Reorganization of the Adult Cortex
Skill training leads to reorganization of
motor cortex

Adult musicians who play instruments

have an enlarged representation of the
hand in somatosensory cortex

Reorganization is synaptogenesis or
pruning of
unused synapses
Neurodevelopmental
Disorders
Autism Spectrum Disorders
1/91 live births in U.S.)

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

(1/100 live births in North America ?)
Autism
[Link]
ation--HNB10051_autism_1.html

3 core symptoms:
Reduced ability to communicate
Reduced capacity for social interaction
Preoccupation with a single subject or activity

Heterogenous level of brain damage and

dysfunction varies (Autism Spectrum
Disorder)
Probably no single cause
Autism
Most have some abilities preserved

Savants
intellectually
handicapped
individuals who display
specific cognitive or
artistic abilities
~1/10 autistic
individuals display
savant abilities
Neural Basis of Autism
Genetic basis
Siblings of the autistic have a 5% chance of
being autistic
60% concordance rate for monozygotic twins

Several genes interacting with the

environment
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum
Disorders
50+% of women who could become
pregnant are drinking

2% of women drink significantly during

pregnancy, 10% drink some
Glass of wine, bottle of beer, shot of liquor are equal
approximately 0.5 oz absolute alcohol

Fetal brain damage occurs at regular doses of 1-2 oz/day

(2-4 drinks) Source: National Institute on Alcohol
Abuse and Alcoholism
Symptoms of FASD
Infant: Problems with sleep, feeding, milestones, muscle
tone, sensory information processing

Child: Hyperactive, poorly coordinated, learning delays

Adolescent/Adult: poor judgment, attention, problems

with arithmetic, memory, abstraction, frustration/anger
Neural Basis of Fetal Alcohol
Spectrum Disorders
When is alcohol exposure most dangerous ???
Neural Basis of Fetal Alcohol
Spectrum Disorders
Alcohol inhibits all stages of brain development,
neuronal death, which it promotes.
Brain damage resulting from
prenatal alcohol

Brain of baby with Brain of baby with heavy no

exposure to alcohol prenatal exposure to alcohol

Photo courtesy of Sterling Clarren, MD