“…Such pruning processes are driven either by apoptosis (Cusack, Swahari, Hampton Henley, Michael Ramsey, & Deshmukh, 2013) or by experience (Eyding, Schweigart, & Eysel, 2002; Yu et al., 2013), but in all likelihood by a combination of both factors. It is well known from neurophysiological studies that the rapid phase of synaptogenesis in early childhood is followed by subsequent longer periods of pruning, during which synapses are eliminated by about 40% to reach near‐mature levels at 11 years of age (Huttenlocher, 1984, 1990; Huttenlocher & de Courten, 1987; Huttenlocher, de Courten, Garey, & Van der Loos, 1982). For example, it has been suggested that sensory deprivation during early childhood might cause a substantial reduction in pruning of the exuberant cortico‐cortical and/or cortico‐thalamo‐cortical connections that exist in early infancy.…”