What term describes the brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections?

Neuroplasticity refers to the brain's remarkable ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout a person's life. This phenomenon allows the brain to adapt to new experiences, recover from injury, and learn new information. Neuroplasticity occurs at various levels: it includes the strengthening of existing connections between neurons, the formation of new connections, and even the creation of new neurons in some areas of the brain, particularly in the hippocampus. This adaptability is critical for normal development, learning, memory, and recovery from brain injury or neurological diseases.

The other terms do not capture the full scope of this ability. Neurogenesis specifically describes the process of generating new neurons, which is just one aspect of neuroplasticity. Cerebral adaptation isn't a commonly used term in neuroscience, and it lacks the specificity of neuroplasticity. Synaptic pruning is a process that involves the removal of weaker synaptic connections while strengthening others, representing a selective aspect of neural development but does not encompass the broader concept of neural reorganization. Thus, the correct answer is neuroplasticity, as it encapsulates the dynamic nature of the brain's capacity to adapt and rewire itself.