part of central nervous system development central nervous system maturation A developmental process, independent of morphogenetic (shape) change, that is required for the central nervous system to attain its fully functional state. The central nervous system is the core nervous system that serves an integrating and coordinating function. In vertebrates it consists of the brain and spinal cord. In those invertebrates with a central nervous system it typically consists of a brain, cerebral ganglia and a nerve cord. GO:0021626 biological_process anatomical structure maturation