What is the name of the process in the development of the central nervous system where the neural plate forms the neural tube?

The process where the neural plate transforms into the neural tube is known as neurulation. This is a critical event in the development of the central nervous system during embryonic formation. During neurulation, the neural plate, which is a specialized area of ectodermal tissue, folds and forms a tube-like structure that will eventually become the brain and spinal cord. This folding is essential because it establishes the groundwork for proper central nervous system development and outlines the future organization of the nervous system.

Other terms related to neural development, such as neurogenesis and neural induction, refer to different processes. Neurogenesis involves the generation of new neurons from neural stem or progenitor cells, while neural induction is the process by which specific areas of ectoderm are directed to become neural tissue. Neither of these processes directly describes the formation of the neural tube itself, which is the hallmark of neurulation.