From what I understand, when the brain develops, neurons grow in random directions and form random connections with each other. The more functional or effective wiring schemes are then selected for based on whether or not they help the organism accomplish certain tasks (such as recognizing food, getting past barriers, satisfying urges, etc.) What is the feedback mechanism that lets these neural circuits know that they're useful and should be preserved or improved upon?

from what I rem, these nets have a limited "life-span" before they deteriorate, so if they`re not reinforced, they eventualy collapse, leaving the working connections only.

Use it or lose it, eh?

Use it or lose it, eh?

 

Absolutely, activity-dependent plasticity.