Computational Neuroscience

To understand the functional role of neural circuits we must understand the developmental history of those circuits. This is the guiding principle underpinning developmental systems neuroscience (see Glossary). Put simply, we must study trajectories of developmental change [1,2] rather than end-state outcomes alone, because the functional role of any neural assembly is shaped by its interactions with other assemblies, across development. This phenomenon is sometimes termed ‘enbrainment’ [3,4]. Over the past 30 years, it has been argued that this perspective should be central to how we understand cognitive development [3–9].