Focus on neural development
Neural development begins in the embryo, with the differentiation of neural progenitors and their subsequent assembly into functional circuits. Recent technological advances, such as the advent of brain organoids, are improving our understanding of how the nervous system forms in humans. There is also a growing link between processes that occur during neural development and the risk of neurodegenerative disorders. From an evolutionary perspective, interspecies differences in neural development can drive functional innovations, such as the increased processing power of the primate neocortex.
This collection of review-type and research articles has been curated to complement the 2024 Gordon Research Conference on Neural Development in Lucca, Italy. The meeting is being chaired by our Editor Debra Silver, and our Reviews Editor Laura Hankins will also be present. We hope you find the collection interesting, and we welcome your own submissions for consideration by our expert Academic Editors from the field, including Debra, François Guillemot and Steve Wilson.
