Neuroembryology and neurogenesis

It is the intention of this chapter to convey an impression of the overall organizational development of the nervous system. The treatment of the subject will not be exhaustive, and only a fewmajor substructures will be outlined particularly as they may be important or contribute to other chapters in this volume. This chapter first introduces the embryonic development of the neural plate into the neural tube and then discusses the proliferation, differentiation, and migration of the neuronal and neural crest cells. Finally, the concept of apoptosis as a method to refine the circuitry of the brain and the maintenance of adult neurogenesis and injuryinduced neurogenesis will be introduced as areas for future consideration.