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This talk presents a conceptual framework for how microglia shape the brain’s structural and functional plasticity across different stages of life. Integrating in vivo imaging, cellular morphology, and behavioral analysis, I explore how microglia respond to experiences such as stress, deprivation, and aging. These changes influence the pace and direction of neural development. The central idea is that microglia act as time translators, helping determine whether the brain moves forward, pauses, or rewinds along its developmental trajectory.