Human neurodevelopment is a complex and precisely regulated process that unfolds over a protracted period of time1-3. Human-specific features of this process are likely to be important factors in the evolution of human specializations2,3,5,6. However, in addition to giving us remarkable cognitive and motor abilities, the formation of molecularly distinct and intricate neural circuits may have also increased our susceptibility to certain psychiatric and neurological disorders4,7-10. Furthermore, sex differences play an important role in brain development and function and are a risk factor for disorders such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD)10-14. Thus, comprehensive knowledge about the spatiotemporal dynamics of the brain transcriptome is essential for a better understanding of neurodevelopment, sexual dimorphism, and evolution, as well as our increased susceptibility to certain brain disorders.
