Basic concepts of CNS development

Some basic principles of the development of the central nervous system (CNS) are reviewed and their implications for both normal and abnormal behavioral development are discussed. The goals of this review are: to provide a set of concepts to aid in the understanding of the variety of complex processes occurring during CNS development, to illustrate how these concepts contribute to our knowledge of the normal anatomy of the adult brain, and to delineate how modifications of normal developmental processes by traumatic injury, by environmental or experiential influences, or by genetic variations may lead to modifications in the resultant structure and function of the adult CNS.