Question

An _______ of ________ during early childhood supports plasticity of the young brain, helping to ensure the child will acquire certain abilities even if some areas are damaged.

a. overabundance; synaptic connections
b. underproduction; neurons
c. overproduction; neurons
d. underproduction; synapses

Answer 1

Answer: a. overabundance; synaptic connections

In early childhood, the brain creates overabundance link of the nerve cells called synapses. The link will allow the brain cells have multiple paths to communicate with each other so that if some cells died the path is not blocked. The synaptic connections will be reduced later by a process called pruning.