Neural development refers to the processes that generate, shape, and reshape the nervous system, from the earliest stages of
embryogenesis to the final years of life. The study of neural development aims to describe the cellular basis of
brain development and to address the underlying mechanisms. The field draws on both
neuroscience and
developmental biology to provide insight into the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which complex
nervous systems develop. Defects in neural development can lead to cognitive and motor impairment, as well as
neurological disorders such as
Rett syndrome, and
intellectual disability.