TIL: Why Your Brain is Wrinkly | Today I Learned

The human brain looks like a big, pinkish-gray, wrinkly walnut. There are so many folds in it that, if it could be unfolded, it could be a small tablecloth. Pinkish-gray might not match your decor, but it would be about the right size!

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This "tablecloth" is made up of the cerebral cortex and is the wrinkly outside layer of your brain. All those folds are responsible for abstract thought, language, and memory. Scientists believe the wrinkles exist as a way to increase the surface area of the cortex, allowing for increased brainpower in a smaller space.

In this week’s "Today I Learned," neuroscientist and National Geographic Emerging Explorer Steve Ramirez shares some of his smarts on how your cortex is different from your pet hamster’s.

TIL: Why Your Brain is Wrinkly | Today I Learned

National Geographic

[thenomad]

Brain get wrinkle when think too hard.

No think hard, brain stay smooth

Never think brain stay pretty

[mrsnoo]

Fun Fact: Your brain named itself... a brain...

[MrCarlton]

So when something is said to deepen the grooves in your brain, it means it's actually getting bigger?

[rabadonsdeathcap]

Imagine having a brain with wrinkles

-this meme is made by the smooth brain gang

[specificsetter]

so is something important about the surface? why cant the outer layer just be thicker?

[WalkingWoman-kx]

Dolphin brains and elephant brains has much more folds than us, does that mean they are more uniquely smart? It means sth

[Spiritof]

Brain: Yo im running out of room

Evolution: So fold it....?

[redacted]

But *_why_* is surface area _important?_

[SovietReunionYT]

But why is more surface area needed? What can surface area do that the inside of the brain cant do?

[bavafan]

this doesn't make sense. the brain doesn't have any greater neuron density on the surface. having a smooth sphere would always have more density

[XteroBlade]

So if your brain is wrinkled does that mean your smart?

[nfvy]

But our brains are actually shrinking...Neanderthals had significantly larger brains and skulls.

[lanadoesathing]

My brain:
Smooth
No winkles
Cute
No think = no sad
yOUr brAin:
Bumpy weird
Wrinkles
Ugly!!!!
Thinks = sad

[KingdomBuilderBoone]

No way NatGeo posted this and thought they ate

[davidkepler]

The brain is the most important organ of the body, according to the brain.

[Calamity_Leo]

I don't get how we evolved yet there's no evidence of it being found, that's some smooth brain thinking there

[hxfizax]

"across evolutionary times " Lmao bye

[ddbears]

What about the kids born with smooth brain I forgot what it’s called but it starts with an L their life expense expectancy is 10 years are under no kid has survived and they can’t do anything on their own

[katecrimson]

WRONG. The surface area to volume problem is that there needs to be more of the membrane/epithelium to volume. No way you pack more volume in with folds, just think about it. The folds take up space, a smooth surface does not. Think a raisin vs a grape. Do more research before you to try to teach people

[greimalkin]

I wish there was more substance to this video