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Synapse Competition and Elimination
Throughout the growth and life of vertebrates and many animals, beginning even in the embryonic stages of development and continuing throughout adult life, a process known as synaptic competition takes place that eliminates certain underperforming synapses and neurons and leads to the dominance of a single motor neuron bringing even in embryonic stages (Wyatt & Balice-Gordon, 2003). This begins with the innervation of musculature during embryonic development by a single motor neuron that remains dominant and leads to the ongoing elimination of other motor neurons throughout life (Wyatt & Balice-Gordon, 2003). Though the mechanisms by which synaptic competition and the resulting synaptic eliminations occur are not precisely known, there has been some research into this area and the beginnings of reasonable theory explaining this phenomenon have been developed.
In embryonic development, synaptic competition begins...
As these more efficient and effective synapses and neurons continue to develop, they become more successful at attracting muscle fibers to themselves, leading to and increased reliance on these particular motor neurons and synapses at the exclusion of other neurons and synapses (Wyatt & Balice-Gordon, 2003). The under-use of these neurons and synapses leads to their eventual elimination while the dominant neurons and synapses take on ever-greater shares of necessary functions (Wyatt & Balice-Gordon, 2003).
References
Howard, I. & Rogers, B. (1995). Binocular vision and stereopsis. New York: Oxford University Press.
Wyatt, R. & Balice-Gordon, R. (2003). Activity-dependent elimination of neuromuscular synapses. Journal of Neurocytology 32(5): 777-94.
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