AP Psychology Practice Test 2026 – Comprehensive Exam Prep

Forming new neurons is called neurogenesis. Neurogenesis is the birth or creation of neurons from neural stem or progenitor cells, a process that happens primarily during development and continues in limited regions of the adult brain, especially the hippocampus and the subventricular zone. This is different from synaptogenesis, which is the building of synaptic connections between neurons; neural migration, which is the movement of new neurons to their final positions; and neural pruning, which is the removal of extra or weak synapses. Neurogenesis helps explain how experience and environment can influence learning and memory by adding new neurons into neural circuits.