Synaptogenesis

Synaptogenesis refers to the formation of synapses between neurons in the nervous system. This is a long term developmental process and also includes synaptic maintenance, stabilization, elimination, and refinement. Following the earliest brain and nervous system development in infancy - a developmental period know as exuberant synaptogenesis. Synaptogenesis continues a steady rate throughout a person's lifetime. If synaptogenesis is prohibited from occurring during critical periods of development then normal brain and neuron functions may fail to develop normally. This is related to the concept of experience-expectant plasticity.