Which process leads to a temporary increase in the number of synapses during early development?

Which process leads to a temporary increase in the number of synapses during early development?

• A. Mitosis.
• B. Neurogenesis.
• C. Oxidative phosphorylation.
• D. Synaptogenesis.

Answer: (D)

The idea being tested is how synapse numbers change as the brain develops. Synaptogenesis is the formation of synapses between neurons, and during early development there is a rapid boom in creating these connections. This leads to a temporary spike in synaptic density as many tentative connections are made. Later, the brain refines its networks through pruning, eliminating weaker or unnecessary synapses so that synapse numbers settle to stable adult levels. The other processes don’t specifically drive this transient increase: mitosis is cell division, which increases cell numbers rather than synapses; neurogenesis makes new neurons; oxidative phosphorylation is about energy production. So synaptogenesis best explains the temporary rise in synapse numbers.

The idea being tested is how synapse numbers change as the brain develops. Synaptogenesis is the formation of synapses between neurons, and during early development there is a rapid boom in creating these connections. This leads to a temporary spike in synaptic density as many tentative connections are made. Later, the brain refines its networks through pruning, eliminating weaker or unnecessary synapses so that synapse numbers settle to stable adult levels. The other processes don’t specifically drive this transient increase: mitosis is cell division, which increases cell numbers rather than synapses; neurogenesis makes new neurons; oxidative phosphorylation is about energy production. So synaptogenesis best explains the temporary rise in synapse numbers.