Microconnection ( Thompson & Swanson, 2010 ) : A connection between two individual neurons (Waldeyer, 1891), or between one neuron and another cell like a muscle or gland cell; p. 15239. At this level of analysis connections are established by synapses (Foster & Sherrington, 1897). In normal, healthy animals qualitative aspects of microconnection patterns are genetically hardwired but their quantitative features can be modified by learning, stress, and a variety of other factors.