ABSTRACT
This chapter presents an overview of the development of the human brain from conception to birth. The details denote the complexity of typical brain development and how development is altered and further complicated by gestational and environmental factors. Specific details related to the structural components of the nervous system, its branches, and their functions are highlighted. A significant portion of the chapter is devoted to factors such as attachment, neglect, and the influence of medications on the developing brain. The goal of this chapter is to provide a foundation for understanding typical brain development as well as various causes of atypical development.
