Pruning Process
Definition
The pruning process is a neurological regulatory process that reduces the overall number of overproduced or "weak" neurons into more efficient synaptic configurations, enhancing the brain's adaptive capabilities and efficiency.
Analogy
Think of your brain as a garden. When you're young, it grows many different types of plants (neurons). As you grow older and learn more about what plants are useful or not (experiences), you start to 'prune' away the unnecessary ones, leaving only the most useful and strongest plants for your garden.
Related terms
Synaptic Plasticity: This refers to the ability of synapses to strengthen or weaken over time in response to increases or decreases in their activity.
Neurogenesis: The process by which new neurons are formed in the brain.
Cognitive Development: Refers to how we perceive, think, and gain understanding of our world through interaction and influence of genetic and learned factors.
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