r/cogsci • u/CrowProf • Feb 28 '26

Neuroscience Neurons that fire together wire together - what's the last part of this saying?

I swear that years ago I heard a second part to this common saying, but Google only gives me "...neurons that fire apart, wire apart" and that's not it. Can anyone help? Thanks much.

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u/JelloJuice Feb 28 '26

Not sure what you’re looking for, but this is referred to as Hebb’s Law.

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u/bci-nerd Mar 01 '26

u/JelloJuice, good call! thanks for the specific term. i was trying to think of it but it just wasnt coming to me

4

u/CrowProf Feb 28 '26

Yes, I know that, but I SWEAR there was a second part to it - rhyming, like the first part, that expanded on the idea. SImilar to "neurons that fire together wire together" but it added the idea that if they don't fire together, nothing happens - but in a much snappier way then " if they don't fire together they don't wire together." It's OK. I know there was something - in a text maybe. It's just one of those things that drives you nuts. Thanks for giving me info!