title: Neural activity and the dynamics of central nervous system development.
abstract: Recent imaging studies show that the formation of neural connections in the central nervous system is a highly dynamic process. The iterative formation and elimination of synapses and neuronal branches result in the formation of a much larger number of trial connections than is maintained in the mature brain. Neural activity modulates development through biasing this process of formation and elimination, promoting the formation and stabilization of appropriate synaptic connections on the basis of functional activity patterns.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Beckman Center B141, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Jackie Yuanyuan
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Hua
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009424:Nervous System Physiological Phenomena; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*