The course focuses on fundamental principles of nervous system organogenesis and integrates information from a variety of model systems, relating them to human nervous system development trajectory, including disorders of development and neurodegenerative disorders. It covers topics such as neuronal determination, axonal navigation and targeting, neuron survival and death, synapse formation and developmental plasticity. The role of environmental exposures, epigenetics, gene expression, cell migration and stem cells, cognitive function, and socioeconomic status are considered.