ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the contemporaneous gains in cognitive functioning and changes in brain structure. With cognitive development specifically, it may be useful to consider brain structural changes along with function, though the interplay between these two is only beginning to be addressed in the literature. The chapter provides a discussion on the time periods with what may be the clearest examples of structural and functional concurrent change. In the developmental literature, a range is almost always given. This convention reflects the fact that not every person develops at the same rate, but also that a lot of our understanding of central nervous system (CNS) development relies upon animal models from species with slightly different trajectories, but similar patterns of development. The time periods include: at birth, 2–3 months, 8–12 months, 16–24 months, 4 years through adolescence, and adulthood and normal aging. Much of the general structure of the CNS is developed before birth.
