Silent Synapses and Brain Plasticity

In Chapter 10 we talk about the remarkable plasticity of the human brain, having twice as many neurons (86 billion!) as a chimpanzee. This plasticity allows us to commandeer brain cells to relearn vital human functions when calamities such as stroke befall us. New research provides evidence of "silent synapses", immature connections in the brain that allow us to form new memories and absorb new information. https://news.mit.edu/2022/silent-synapses-brain-1130. Here's the published research: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-05483-6.