“SUPER BIZARRE” – NEUROSCIENTISTS DISCOVER THAT ADULT BRAIN IS FILLED WITH MILLIONS OF “SILENT SYNAPSES”

Summary from the TLDR newsletter

Scientists have discovered a surprisingly large reserve of silent synapses in the adult brain. These unused neural connections can be rapidly activated to store new memories. This system allows the brain to create new memories without overwriting the important memories stored in mature synapses. If silent synapses decline with age or disease, it could help explain why learning new skills or adapting to change becomes more difficult over time.