The adult brain contains millions of "silent synapses", or immature connections between neurons that remain inactive until they are required for learning new information and storing new memories.
MIT neuroscientists discovered that the adult brain contains millions of “silent synapses” immature connections between neurons that remain inactive until they’re recruited to help form new memories.
Researchers at MIT have demonstrated how dendrites branch-like extensions that protrude from neurons help neurons perform computations on information that comes in from other parts of the brain.