Final answer:
The correct answer to the student's question about the brain's ability to change and adapt is d. plasticity, which is known as neuroplasticity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phenomenon described in the question is known as neuroplasticity. This term refers to the brain's remarkable ability to change and adapt, which is particularly evident during childhood but continues throughout life. Neuroplasticity manifests through various mechanisms, such as the creation of new synapses, synaptic pruning, changes in glial cells, and neurogenesis (the birth of new neurons). Synaptic plasticity, a specific aspect of neuroplasticity, is fundamental for learning and memory, involving processes like long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD).
The correct answer to the student's question is d. plasticity.