As far as I know, pruning is related to age. At birth, we have a massive number of silent synapses. As we grow older, those that remain unused (i.e., inactive) tend to disappear. This process involves a delicate mechanism, including components of the immune system.
The unfortunate reality is that no one truly understands how memory works. Many theories are floating around, but the fundamental components remain elusive. One thing is certain: it is quite different from backpropagation. Thankfully, our brains do not suffer from catastrophic forgetting.
The unfortunate reality is that no one truly understands how memory works. Many theories are floating around, but the fundamental components remain elusive. One thing is certain: it is quite different from backpropagation. Thankfully, our brains do not suffer from catastrophic forgetting.