Basic Processes
What is the name of the process where new neurons are formed in the brain?
What is neurogenesis.
What two senses develop fast because their neurons get myelin early in life?
What are hearing and vision.
By age 1, how many synapses does a baby have?
What is about 1,000 trillion.
What is it called when the brain clears out unused connections?
What is pruning.
What helps keep brain connections strong and active?
What is early experience or learning.
How many neurons does a baby’s brain have at birth?
What is about 100 billion.
What do we call the process where brain cells connect to each other to build networks?
What is synaptogenesis.
What activities can help adults grow new brain cells?
What are exercise, learning, and brain training.
Between what ages does the brain do the most pruning?
What is between ages 3 and 16
What is it called when brain cells move to where they belong?
What is neural migration.
How can we help the brain keep strong connections?
What is by using them often or practicing.
True or False: Brain cells only move around before birth.
What is false. (Migration can continue into adulthood.)
What is the name of the process where a fatty layer wraps around brain cells to help them send messages faster?
What is myelination.
Which parts of the brain still have moving neurons even in adults?
What are the cerebellum and hippocampus.
What is myelin mostly made of—fat or protein?
What is fat. (It’s about 70% fat and 30% protein)