critical period

noun

1. psychol a period in a lifetime during which a specific stage of development usually occurs. If it fails to do so, it cannot readily occur afterwards

Example Sentences

Researchers found that maternal immune activity during a critical period of sex-dependent brain development in pregnancy affected the offspring's long-term memory circuitry and function in childhood and midlife, with different patterns for males and females.

From Science Daily

Scientists have struggled to understand how stars spiraling together during this critical period affects the stars' subsequent evolution.

From Science Daily

Crypto now faces a critical period to capitalize on its electoral momentum and secure meaningful regulatory reform, which will likely shape the future of digital assets in America.

From Salon

Trump cannot be allowed to rewrite this critical period of history because the consequences would be dire.

From Los Angeles Times

But the critical period leading up to Snowball Earth was thought to be missing because the rock layers were eroded by the big freeze.

From BBC

Related Words

• climax
• critical point
• crux
• culmination
• juncture
• twist