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Which neurodevelopmental processes continue in humans after birth?
1Department of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.
Frontiers in Neuroscience
|September 23, 2024
Summary
Human brain development continues past birth, with nerve cells migrating into regions like the frontal cortex and near the amygdala into adolescence. This ongoing neural circuit reconfiguration supports brain plasticity and unique functionality.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Human Brain Anatomy
Background:
- Neuronal populations are generally stable after birth in most brain regions.
- Postnatal neurogenesis in humans is limited but occurs.
- Neural migration continues into infancy and adolescence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the extent and significance of postnatal neuronal migration in the human brain.
- To understand the role of protracted neuronal migration and maturation in human brain development.
- To explore the implications of these processes for neural circuit plasticity and function.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of neuronal migration pathways in human infants and adolescents.
- Examination of interneuron delivery to the frontal and temporal lobe cortex.
- Investigation of excitatory neuron migration near the amygdala paralaminar nucleus.
Main Results:
- Postnatal neuronal migration occurs via multiple pathways, delivering interneurons to cortical regions.
- Excitatory neuron migration persists into adolescence, particularly near the amygdala.
- The timing of neuronal recruitment and maturation varies across brain regions.
Conclusions:
- Protracted neuronal migration and maturation are prominent features of human brain development.
- These mechanisms contribute to the flexibility and unique functionality of human neural circuits.
- Ongoing circuit reconfiguration may underlie critical periods of brain plasticity.
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