Synaptogenesis

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Synaptogenesis is the formation of synapses. Although it occurs throughout a healthy person's lifespan, an explosion of synapse formation occurs during early brain development. Cholesterol, a chemical we often think is harmful, is essential for synapse formation. Synaptogenesis is particularly important during an individual's "critical period" of life, during which there is a certain degree of neuronal pruning due to competition for neural growth factors by neurons and synapses. Processes that are not used, or inhibited during this critical period will fail to develop normally later on in life. Monocular deprivation during childhood for example, can result in partial blindness in the unused eye.