What term describes a period during development when experience is crucial for forming brain circuits?

The term that describes a period during development when experience is crucial for forming brain circuits is known as the "Critical Period." During this critical timeframe, the brain exhibits heightened sensitivity to specific stimuli or experiences, which are essential for normal development of certain functions, such as language acquisition, vision, and social interaction. Missing the opportunity for these experiences during the critical period can lead to long-lasting deficits in the respective functions because the brain's wiring is particularly amenable to influence from the environment at this stage.

While "Sensitive Period" may also refer to times when development can be influenced by experience, the concept of critical periods emphasizes a more definitive time frame where certain experiences are necessary for proper brain circuit formation. "Neural Plasticity" refers to the brain's ability to change and adapt throughout life, but it does not specifically identify a stage of development. "Developmental Phase" is a broader, more general term that does not imply the urgency or necessity of experience in forming brain circuits like the specified critical period does.