Researchers challenge long-standing “lizard brain” evolution theory

Researchers from Georgia Tech and Cornell University have published a study in Science Advances challenging the long-standing “lizard brain” theory of brain evolution. Popularized in the 1950s, this model suggested that the brain evolved in hierarchical layers, with basic bodily functions developing first, followed by emotional centers, and finally advanced reasoning capabilities.

The new research suggests that brain evolution is better understood through neural wiring organization rather than the addition of new layers. By comparing the limbic system and the neocortex, scientists found that these systems utilize fundamentally different neural wiring strategies. The neocortex employs spatial mapping for processing vision, sound, and touch, while the limbic system uses a distributed, “barcode-style” organization better suited for smell recognition and memory tasks.

The study indicates that brain evolution involves a competition for limited neural resources, such as space and energy. This “computational tug of war” between different wiring strategies may provide insights into how biological brains function and could potentially inform the development of more efficient artificial intelligence systems.