The Human Neocortex Isn’t as Special as We Thought

For a long time, scientists considered the neocortex the brainiest part of the human brain – an obvious candidate for the thing that makes us unique. But in some ways, it’s not that different from other mammals’ brains. So researchers have started looking at other places to figure out what makes us distinctly human.

Hosted by: Hank Green
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[fuduzan]

"Picture a brain in your brain ... your mind's eye is probably showing you..."
Me, aphantic: Nuh-uh.

[DrDM]

The Human Neocortex Isn’t as Special as IT Thought.

[Tensai]

Humans: Ah yes, our neocortex. THIS, this is what makes humans so great and unique!!
**Humans discover that the neocortex isn't special at all**
Ah yes, the crebellum. So filled with neurons. THIS, this is what makes us humans so great and unique!!

[janakrajpathak]

Gentleman neocartex a is with density log scale dimension and neocartex b is with four frames and neocartex card is connected in singular omnipresency and right lung lever node also for oxygen purification with value mud dust.Thank you.

[skybluskyblueify]

The book: Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? by Frans de Waal is ideal to see just how we do differ from all other animals and we have so much the same. He brings in the latest in animal behavioral science and compares brain structure and function with a whole host of animal types, not just mammals.

[anthonyrobles]

When you know you have Aphantasia because of a SciShow video you watched, then Hank asks you to visualize a brain.

[BTRIDQGLEHHUZFBT]

This title trips my brain up. Shouldn't there be another "as" in there? Shouldn't it be "the neocortex isn't as as special as we thought?"

[chaddriveler]

Improvements in various aspects of human intelligence have a multiplicative impact. If your memory improves by 10%, it would be fair to say that you have become 10% more intelligent. If your ability to predict future events based on current knowledge improves by 10%, you would be 10% more intelligent in this case also. A 10% improvement to both would yield a 21% total improvement. It would be hard to properly map all the different aspects which multiplicatively improve intelligence, but it is clear that making dozens of tiny improvements can easily multiply to enormous differences in capability.

[yazinuwa]

From the beginning i m enchanted by the physiology of cerebellum ; i see it as the central place for our consciousness... yeah neocortex isn’t that complex and helpful as much cerebellum ;but i have to mention that it’s not about cerebellum itself ...its own connections with other parts (neocortex, spinal cord, thalamus...)

[ivana.]

I feel awareness makes us dumb compared to animals in some regards. For example, if a deer gets stressed and flees a threat. It doesn’t ruminate or concerns itself anymore after the threat is gone. Our cognitive ability is a double edged sword in the sense that while it allows us to coordinate and prepare for the future, it can also makes us it’s slave by creative obsessiveness, rumination and unnecessary anxiety; even when a threat is no longer there. This is what people call living in your head and not being int he present. In short, we are awesome and not at the same time. Go science!

P.S. was it scishow that showed that chimps beat us at number memorizing due to the fact that they don’t have language?

[wylierichardson]

Maybe we just aren't nearly as special as we wish we were.

[Radhaun]

"just because something's important, doesn't mean it isn't very, very small. Tiny, like the size of a marble or a jewel"

[benmcreynolds]

I'd like to see a video that dives into research on neuron growth, density, brain flow, Grey vs. White matter. The Blood Brain Barrier and Brain healing stimulation or medicine.

[clankbo]

I'd love to watch videos about neurolinguistics! After all, language is the most complex thing created by the most complex network in the known universe (the human brain).

[captainzappbrannagan]

The Cerebellum is highly active in dreams and subconscious roles, so it's not surprising since there is no such thing as free will we just give over to this pre-conscious beast.

[aalhard]

Look at computers, aside from GPUs, ram and drives take up more physical space than the CPU. They also differ less between systems. The CPU is more dense, varied, and central to making the computer different.

[LittleMissMisses]

With my limited knowledge of the brain, I’d have thought the most interesting parts were the hypothalamus, petuitary and amygdala, but maybe I just put a lot of thought into endocrine systems 🤔 this is was interesting, thank you!

[kenpanderz]

my small brain is very dense, and im proud of it.

[Jono_McK]

Species proclaimed to be special slowly finds out that they're not so special.

[MrCTruck]

Corvids and Octopuses have exceptional intelligence relative to all other animals, all without cortical gyri and sulci.