A Review on Brain Evolution and Development

Abstract

Development of human brain is the essential process in the prenatal period of human growth. The total surface of human brain area is 1820 cm2, and the average cortical thickness is 2.7 mm. We reviewed and referred to several articles in this field. Comparative studies of the primate's brain show that there are general architectural basis governing the brain growth and evolutionary development. In this study, it is discussed about the human brain development with highlighting on the main mechanisms in the embryonic stage and early postnatal life as well as the general architectural values in brain evolution from primates to now. It is suggested that neurodevelopment involves some genetic bases in the neural stem cells proliferation, cortical neurons migration, cerebral cortex folding, synaptogenesis, gliogenesis, and myelination of neural fibers.

Keywords

• neurodevelopment
• brain evolution
• prenatal stage
• primate