PSB-2000 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Sonic Hedgehog, Subventricular Zone, Neuroplasticity
Document Summary
Over the course of development, the brain transforms from a single undifferentiated cell into billions of highly interconnected neurons. This happens in a progression of stages using various genetic and molecular markers to trigger development. Even after development, mechanisms of plasticity remain that help the brain learn, remember, and adapt to changes. Anatomical development begins during embryogenesis (when the embryo is forming) and continues into early adulthood. This development uses molecular signals that will be covered later. Brain tissue comes from the ectoderm, the outer layer of tissue in the developing embryo. The groove folds up into a neural tube, which is brought into the developing embryo. Different areas of the brain start to develop from the tube. The three embryonic brain areas are the prosencephalon, mesencephalon, and rhombencephalon. The retina of the eye is part of the prosencephalon. The development of these different areas is triggered by neural inducer genes.
