Scientists challenge a 70-year-old “lizard brain” myth
Researchers are challenging the 'lizard brain' myth, which suggests the human brain evolved in layers of increasing complexity. New evidence indicates that brain evolution is better understood as a competitive allocation of neural wiring strategies, a finding that could inform more efficient AI development.
Why it matters
Reframing our understanding of brain evolution helps correct long-standing misconceptions and provides a new blueprint for designing energy-efficient artificial neural networks.
Many important choices seem to pit reason against emotion. Popular culture often describes that tension as a contest between two parts of the brain: a newer, more advanced center for rational thought and an ancient "lizard brain" that runs on instinct.
The article presents a scientific perspective on a biological theory without bias or sensationalism.
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