Every time I ask this question, I feel like the answer sidesteps an actual explanation. Yes, I understand that the folded, wrinkled shape allows for more surface area. The heart of my question is WHY is that important? Like, if the outermost layer of the brain is important, why couldn’t it just be a thicker layer instead of just squishing more outermost layer into a wrinkled shape?
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To answer the other part of your question-why there isn’t just a thicker layer of neurons: part of it is that it evolved that way. Evolution makes changes based on what’s already there, and it would be difficult to make it thicker. There are specialized layers of neurons within that thin outermost layer (the cortex). Making it thicker would either add more layers that aren’t needed, or disrupt the relationship between layers. But the bigger reason is space. You need connections between all those neurons throughout the brain. But increasing the thickness of the cortex would mean an exponential increase in the volume needed to make room in the cortex for those connections. Thus, there wouldn’t be much room to add a lot more neurons.
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