Facts about Synaptic Pruning

1. 05

   Activity-dependent synaptic pruning selectively strengthens frequently used connections while eliminating weaker, less active synapses, following a use-it-or-lose-it principle.

   Synaptic PruningJun 7shareneurosciencedevelopmentbiology
2. 04

   The complement proteins C1q and C3 tag synapses for elimination, marking them for recognition and removal by microglia during synaptic pruning.

   Synaptic PruningJun 7shareneurosciencebiologydevelopment
3. 03

   Abnormal synaptic pruning is implicated in schizophrenia, with research suggesting excessive pruning in adolescence may contribute to the disorder's onset.

   Synaptic PruningJun 7shareneurosciencedevelopmentpsychiatry
4. 02

   Microglia, the brain's immune cells, are the primary executors of synaptic pruning, engulfing and eliminating unwanted synapses through a process called phagocytosis.

   Synaptic PruningJun 7shareneurosciencebiologydevelopment
5. 01

   During adolescence, synaptic pruning eliminates roughly half of the synaptic connections formed during early childhood, refining neural circuits for more efficient functioning.

   Synaptic PruningJun 7shareneurosciencedevelopmentbiology