What happens to the midbrain and hindbrain during early prenatal brain development?

During early prenatal brain development, the midbrain and hindbrain are among the first areas to differentiate and form within the overall structure of the developing brain. This early formation is critical because these regions are essential for many basic and vital functions, including those that regulate heart rate, breathing, and reflexes, which are necessary for survival immediately after birth.

The midbrain plays a role in several functions related to vision, hearing, motor control, sleep/wake, arousal, and temperature regulation, while the hindbrain is crucial for autonomic functions and coordination of movement. Their early development is essential as it lays the foundation for more complex brain structures to develop later, including the forebrain, which is responsible for higher cognitive functions.

As the development progresses, the forebrain does evolve last in order of development. However, understanding that the midbrain and hindbrain are the first to differentiate is key to grasping how the brain's architecture is established during prenatal stages.