Brain development
The beginning
Spinal chord and PNS
Migration of cells from spinal chord to periphery.
Development of motor neurons Alignment of sensory and motor neurons (motor & proprioception) Proper CPG and reflexes require proper development of local circuits
Anterior segments Hindbrain Midbrain Mesencephalon Diencephalon Telencephalon Signaling cascades govern Cell differentiation & Migration
Eyes
Cortical layers Glial fibers
Olfactory neurons From sub-ventricular zone to olfactory bulb
Setting up the connections Where and when should the axon grow?
Eyes to brain Setting up topography…
Motor neurons to muscles Setting up innervation
Cell death
Nerve growth factor Cells are programed to die unless they get NGF….
Synaptic pruning - PNS Competition among synapses
Synaptic pruning - CNS
Occular dominance in a neonate monkey V1
Synaptic pruning is activity dependent Hebbian learning
Synapses during development
Synaptic plasticity Map space with inter-aural differences
Synaptic plasticity
Axonal projections from the Inferior Coliculus to the visual tectum shift. This shift can only happen in young owls…
Critical periods A developmental period with enhanced plasticity. Imprinting
Critical periods Bird song development
Critical periods
Innervation of primary visual cortex