What do you think would happen if the
dendrites could no longer receive
signals?

I think sorry if wrong ;)

These connections occur at short, root-like tendrils called dendrites, which sprout from the neuron's cell body, or soma. ... As it loses input connections, the wounded neuron also becomes more excitable: the neuron becomes more likely to fire signals down its truncated axon when stimulated to do so by other neurons.

a physical change is being made.