Hobbies And Interests
Human Brain Development
Newborn baby brains contain almost all of the neurons a person will ever have, according to the University Medical Center at Tucson, Az. Those neurons require wiring, or connecting, and that is the function of synapses. The human brain possesses the ability to produce more synapses than the brain can ever use. By late preschool age, the human child's brain is fully wired with a need to selectively reduce some wiring.
Pruning
Pruning is term describing synapse reduction. Just as you would prune a tree to remove certain unneeded branches so the other branches can flourish, the brain selects those synapses that are not needed and eliminates them. This is a continuing process during childhood as each area of the brain clears out the clutter and preserves the necessary synapses. Early brain development depends upon this synapse reduction.
Sleep
Synapse reduction is not limited to children. According to a report of a study published in "Scientific American" in January 2011, the brain engages in synapse reduction during sleep. This allows the brain to discard unneeded information and allow it to process new information in the future. This study is not the end of research but it does provide insight into the activities of the brain during sleep.
Failure of Synapse Reduction
Children who do not receive sufficient mental stimulation during their early years may fail to have the wiring in their brain organized through synapse reduction. They may never achieve the skills necessary for language and other learning skills. Their brain will just not be properly wired.