Execution Phase

Removal / Phagocytosis Phase

Neurogenesis

Neural stem cell quiescence

Stem cell activation

Cell cycle entry

Symmetric stem cell division (self-renewal)

Asymmetric stem cell division (stem cell + progenitor)

Neural progenitor proliferation

Lineage specification (neuronal vs glial commitment)

Neuronal fate commitment

Early neuronal differentiation (expression of neuron-specific genes)

Establishment of cell polarity

Axon initiation

Dendrite formation

Cytoskeletal reorganization

Neuronal migration (radial or tangential)

Axon elongation

Growth cone navigation and guidance cue response

Target recognition

Initial synapse formation (synaptogenesis)

Synaptic protein assembly (pre- and postsynaptic specialization)

Spontaneous electrical activity

Activity-dependent synaptic refinement

Neurotrophic factor signaling

Survival selection or apoptosis

Functional circuit integration

Chemiluminescence

Extracellular bioluminescence

Photoprotein-based bioluminescence

Intracellular bioluminescence

Autogenic bioluminescence

Symbiotic bioluminescence