There is no doubt that one of the big
scientific challenges ahead is to understand how brain activity is translated
into specific mental states. If we are to solve this question, we must first
obtain a deeper knowledge of the outer layer of the brain, made up of billions
of neurons, which is known as the neocortex.
The neocortex is organized into functional areas associated with movement,
perception and with higher cognitive abilities typical of humans. In Homo sapiens, the neocortex amounts
roughly to 80% of the total mass of the brain, an evolutionary leap compared to
other primates and even great apes. How was such innovation achieved?
