<p><strong>Short answer</strong><br>
The brain is a highly dynamic organ that changes constantly through life. During adulthood, there is a general decline in the number of cells. Memory formation is generally thought to be regulated through synaptic connections rather than at the whole-neuron level.</p>

<p><strong>Background</strong><br>
First of all, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aging_brain" rel="nofollow noreferrer">aging results in a steady decline of the number of nerve cells</a>, so the 'architecture' of the brain changes dramatically regardless its function.</p>

<p>Secondly, memories and other dynamic processes in the brain are typically controlled by altering <strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synapse" rel="nofollow noreferrer">synaptic connectivity</a></strong> and not so much at the level of the whole-neuron. </p>

<p>Thirdly, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23292211" rel="nofollow noreferrer">neuronal regeneration</a> is confined to but a few areas in the brain, for example the hippocampus where it may, or may not be directly involved in memory formation.</p>

<p>But yes, the brain does dynamically control the synaptic connectivity and notably the synaptic strength of synapses. As Fizz here correctly states, that is called neuroplasticity. Intensive use of certain synaptic connections may result in synaptic strengthening,for example by <strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-term_potentiation" rel="nofollow noreferrer">long-term potentiation</a></strong> <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14715912" rel="nofollow noreferrer">(Lynch, 2004)</a>. Reversely, abandoned connections may be downregulated through <strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-term_depression" rel="nofollow noreferrer">long-term depression</a></strong>.</p>

<p>A general reference work best suited for your basic question would really be a general Neuroscience text book, such as the following online work:   </p>

<p><strong>-</strong> <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK10799/?term=purves" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Purves <em>et al</em>. (eds). <em>Neuroscience</em>. 2<sup>nd</sup> ed. Sunderland (MA): Sinauer Associates; 2001</a>.</p>

<p>Or for something more up-to-date, yet not online, the bible of Neuroscience:</p>

<p><strong>-</strong> <a href="https://neurology.mhmedical.com/book.aspx?bookID=1049" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Kandel <em>et al</em>. (eds.). <em>Principles of Neural Science</em></a></p>

<p><sub><strong>Reference</strong><br>
<strong>-</strong> <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14715912" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Lynch, <em>Physiol Rev</em> (2004); <strong>84</strong>(1): 87-136</a></sub></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-24T11:01:13.550Z
Your answer didn't surprise me. The whole world is highly dynamic, static or stationary models are usually only simplifications.
jjack
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-22T10:03:52.917Z
2017-12-22T10:09:59.363Z
2017-12-22T10:09:59.363Z
AliceD
<p>The brain continues to reorganize throughout life. The process is called <a href="https://web.stanford.edu/group/hopes/cgi-bin/hopes_test/neuroplasticity/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">neuroplasticity</a>. Among other things (and as proof) it is what allows people to recover from stroke (or traumatic brain injury). Neuroplasticity does slow down in the really old age, which also makes recovery from stroke more difficult for the elderly.</p>

<p>For even more details (than the prvious link) see <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3956134/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">"Old Dogs Learning New Tricks: Neuroplasticity Beyond the Juvenile Period"</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-22T10:01:07.287Z
2017-12-22T10:19:06.030Z
2017-12-22T10:19:06.030Z
got trolled too much this week
<p>If we are somehow able to record and store all the neural connection in the brain of a child and also the brain of the same individual when he is old will there be difference between the two ?</p>

<p>Is the brain capable to destroy and create neural networks (neurons) on its own, namely to store, process and retrieve memories? Or does it uses a fixed network instead, <em>i.e.,</em> the network which each individual is born with )?</p>

<p>If the brain does create new networks, can you please provide a link to the resource where I can read this from ?</p>

<neuroscience><neural-network><neurophysiology><brain>
Does the brain's architecture change while growing up?
infiNity9819
# Does the brain's architecture change while growing up?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-12-22)

If we are somehow able to record and store all the neural connection in the brain of a child and also the brain of the same individual when he is old will there be difference between the two ?

Is the brain capable to destroy and create neural networks (neurons) on its own, namely to store, process and retrieve memories? Or does it uses a fixed network instead, *i.e.,* the network which each individual is born with )?

If the brain does create new networks, can you please provide a link to the resource where I can read this from ?

**Tags:** neuroscience, neural-network, neurophysiology, brain


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-12-22. Score: 4

**Short answer**  
The brain is a highly dynamic organ that changes constantly through life. During adulthood, there is a general decline in the number of cells. Memory formation is generally thought to be regulated through synaptic connections rather than at the whole-neuron level.

**Background**  
First of all, [aging results in a steady decline of the number of nerve cells](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aging_brain), so the 'architecture' of the brain changes dramatically regardless its function.

Secondly, memories and other dynamic processes in the brain are typically controlled by altering **[synaptic connectivity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synapse)** and not so much at the level of the whole-neuron.

Thirdly, [neuronal regeneration](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23292211) is confined to but a few areas in the brain, for example the hippocampus where it may, or may not be directly involved in memory formation.

But yes, the brain does dynamically control the synaptic connectivity and notably the synaptic strength of synapses. As Fizz here correctly states, that is called neuroplasticity. Intensive use of certain synaptic connections may result in synaptic strengthening,for example by **[long-term potentiation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-term_potentiation)** [(Lynch, 2004)](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14715912). Reversely, abandoned connections may be downregulated through **[long-term depression](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-term_depression)**.

A general reference work best suited for your basic question would really be a general Neuroscience text book, such as the following online work:

**-** [Purves *et al*. (eds). *Neuroscience*. 2nd ed. Sunderland (MA): Sinauer Associates; 2001](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK10799/?term=purves).

Or for something more up-to-date, yet not online, the bible of Neuroscience:

**-** [Kandel *et al*. (eds.). *Principles of Neural Science*](https://neurology.mhmedical.com/book.aspx?bookID=1049)

**Reference**  
**-** [Lynch, *Physiol Rev* (2004); **84**(1): 87-136](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14715912)

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Your answer didn't surprise me. The whole world is highly dynamic, static or stationary models are usually only simplifications.  

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### Answer by username_3 on 2017-12-22. Score: 2

The brain continues to reorganize throughout life. The process is called [neuroplasticity](https://web.stanford.edu/group/hopes/cgi-bin/hopes_test/neuroplasticity/). Among other things (and as proof) it is what allows people to recover from stroke (or traumatic brain injury). Neuroplasticity does slow down in the really old age, which also makes recovery from stroke more difficult for the elderly.

For even more details (than the prvious link) see ["Old Dogs Learning New Tricks: Neuroplasticity Beyond the Juvenile Period"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3956134/)


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