Origin, evolution, development and adaptations of the brain
Primates are endowed with a brain roughly twice the size of a mammal of the same body size, and humans have the largest brain relative to the body size of all animals. However, in its internal structure, the primate brain shares a highly conserved pattern with other mammals, but is covered by a neocortex that expands disproportionately compared to other components of the brain. This specific trait is based on the appearance of specialized cerebral cortical regions and subcompartments, which triggers an increase in brain size, interconnectivity between areas, and histological complexity. This characteristic has been associated with the acquisition of higher cognitive skills that allow more complex social interactions, the evolution of culture, and the eventual ability to manipulate the environment.
