Why Do Our Brains Have Folds? Here's Everything We Know So Far:
Our brain’s outer layer has folds, forming ridges and valleys. This folding process, known as gyrification, increases the brain's surface area while fitting within the skull.
A larger surface area allows our brain to pack in more neurons which, in turn, can mean more advanced brains with increased cognitive abilities.
The mechanism behind this brain folding remains complex and not fully understood, but researchers suggest it's related to the brain's growth and development. One theory, called differential tangential growth, proposes that the brain's outer layer grows faster than the inner layer.
This growth difference creates compressive forces, leading to the folding of the brain's surface. However, not all creatures share these folded brains. For instance, mice and rats have smooth brains due to limited cortex expansion. The folding patterns aren't random but consistent within individuals and some species, reflecting their significance.
These patterns are connected to the functions of different cortex regions. Despite elephants having more and more folded brains, humans' advanced cortex function sets us apart evolutionarily. Unraveling the mystery of brain folding holds promise for understanding brain disorders, developing diagnostic tools, and advancing treatments in the future.
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