Evidence exists that the developing organism adapts to the environment it finds itself. Short and long-term adjustments take place and will initially induce intrauterine growth retardation but will also have consequences that will appear later in life. These adjustments are referred as "programming". The use of advanced magnetic resonance imaging techniques in IUGR babies has delineated changes in the development of the central nervous system that correlate with altered neurodevelopment and could be implicated in the development of neuropsychiatric disorders in adult life. In this review, we will delineate some modifications of CNS development and functions that occur after exposition to adverse environment and that can now be studied in vivo with advanced imaging technology.