A step-by-step sequence in which the brain develops in an orderly manner, from simpler to more complex areas. The developmental process begins with the neural circuits responsible for primary sensory functions and moves on to the higher regions of the cerebral cortex, responsible for complex cognitive functions such as language, reasoning, and problem-solving. This chronological progression shows that the neuropsychological development of the child is a cumulative and interrelated process, depending on the maturation of earlier structures for the activation of subsequent ones.