I’ve heard it explained as a density problem but that doesn’t make sense too me either because then wouldn’t having a smooth brain mean it’s more solid?
In: 113
Take a partially inflated balloon and compare that to crumbled up paper occupying the same volume. Which has more surface area?
I do not know the answer but the first thing i thought about was heat dissipation. I wondered if a higher surface area brain could run with more clock cycles without frying itself. Then I wondered if having some kind of blood cooling heatsink mounted to the back of your neck might help you become smarter in hotter climates. Probably not tho 😅
As most have said, a surface area thing, just like the lungs need a lot of surface area. Why? Blood. All the cells in your brain (neurons) need to be near blood to receive oxygen and other exchanges, so they all stay at the surface of the brain, the “interior” is formed only by extension of those cells (axions). So, having the wrinkles on that surface makes possible to have more neurons. Also, it’s believe (i’m not sure if this is a theory or confirmed) that the wrinkles make possible that more neurons are close to each other, and so they can communicate (cell signaling) easier and faster.
More wrinkles means more surface area, and that means more neural connections that can process information more quickly.
Imagine having a big room with bookshelves along the walls. You probably have a lot of books with information you need. Now, imagine adding bookshelves that stick out, make a maze throughout the room with different sections for more books. Now, you have a lot more information to read and more books that might relate to each other so you can learn things in more depth.
Take a standard piece of paper and write some information all over one side of it. Now lay it down on the table. That information covers up 8.5×11 inches.
Now, take that paper and fold it in half lengthwise. Now that same information only covers 4.25×11″. Fold it again but widthwise. Now it covers 4.25×5.5″. You can keep folding that paper until it wont bend any more and it will take up less and less space.
But, you have the original 8.5×11″ piece of table to fill with information. So, you get more papers and fill them with more information and fold them. Then put them against the first paper. How many papers filled with information even on only one side would you need to fill that original 8.5×11″ section of table?
table: skull
paper: brain
lines on paper: neurons
writing: information
information: intelligence
Latest Answers