The Learning Lead - Volume 1, 2020 - Fast and Efficient Connections in the Brain

Important Cellular Processes Underlying Brain Development³ The formation of new neurons in the brain is a process that is largely completed by birth, with the exception of very few brain regions that continue neurogenesis throughout adulthood. After birth, most brain processes are focused on building connections between these neurons to allow brain areas to communicate.

• Axonal elongation and dendritic branching: Neurons form specialized nerve fibers to allow information flow between neurons. Dendrites are shorter fibers that receive information and bring it to the cell body; axons are longer fibers that carry the information from the cell body to the synapse where the information will be passed to the next neuron.
• Synaptogenesis: The formation of synapses, which allow for the transmission of the information (electrical or chemical signals) from one neuron to another via neurotransmitters (signaling molecules) and receptors.
• Synaptic pruning: The process by which connections that are not used often after birth are eliminated, allowing for more efficiency, providing room for the most important networks of connections to expand, saving energy, filtering information, etc.⁴
• Myelination: The process of insulating axons to improve communication speed between neurons and to minimize signal loss, thus improving efficiency of the information flow.

Reference

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