What is the term for the production and growth of new nerve cells during development and throughout life?

The production and growth of new nerve cells is termed neurogenesis. This process is vital not only during prenatal development when the nervous system is forming, but it also continues in certain regions of the brain throughout life, particularly in areas like the hippocampus, which is associated with memory and learning.

Neurogenesis involves the generation of neural stem cells that differentiate into various types of neurons and glial cells, contributing to brain plasticity and repair. This capability enhances the brain's ability to adapt to new experiences, learn from them, and recover from injuries.

While neurodegeneration refers to the progressive loss of structure or function of neurons and is often associated with diseases like Alzheimer's, nerve growth is a more general term that doesn't specifically denote the production of new neurons. Neuronal maturation focuses on the development of neurons after they have been formed, which includes processes like synapse formation and the establishment of neural circuits, but does not include the genesis of new cells.