Final answer:
C. Pruning
The term for the process in which unused neural connections are replaced or vanish is called pruning. It is preceded by a phase of rapid growth called blooming.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term used to describe the process by which unused neural connections are replaced by other pathways or disappear is C. Pruning. During the first few years of a child's life, a period known as blooming occurs, where rapid neural growth and the creation of connections take place. Following this, the pruning process helps the brain to remove less active or unnecessary neural pathways, thus making the brain's functioning more efficient and enabling the acquisition of more complex skills.Ongoing neurogenesis in the hippocampus can be influenced by factors like exercise and stress.
Moreover, the concept of neurogenesis, the birth of new neurons, continues into adulthood, though it is more limited compared to tissue regeneration. This neurogenesis is evident in learning and memory, particularly within the hippocampus, which generates approximately 1000 new neurons each day. Factors such as exercise can promote neurogenesis, while stress has an inhibitory effect. Research in this area is dynamic and could lead to innovations in treating neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's, stroke, and epilepsy.