The origin of the neocortex !

l My corgecturt! is that nt!ocortex, likefur, kettps tht! body warm. A mammal requirtts 5 to 10 times mort! t!nt!rgy t!xprndituTe than dot!S an t!fJuivalmtly sizt!d rttptik. Most ofthis incrt!ast!d t!nt!Tgy t!xpenditurt! is dttvott!d to tht! homeostatic mechanisms oj thermort!gulation. Thus mammals must t!at a grt!at dttal mort! than rt!ptiks to avoid starvation. My hypotht!sis is that nt!ocortex t!volved in tandttm with rndothermy to assurt! tht! reliable and continuous localization offood rt!SOUTCt!S. The neocortt!x consists largt!ly of topographically organizt!d maps of vision, touch and hearing that stort! rt!prt!srntations of the mammal's interactions with its /!nvironmrnt. Tht! nt!ocortical network rt!quirt!s an initial period of training, which is maniftsted in infant play bt!havior. During this training period tht! infant's /!nergy rt!quirttments art! providt!d by its mother's milk. Thus mammalian lactation and play bt!havior art! nect!Ssary adaptations to support linkt!d t!ndothermic and nt!ocortical homt!osto.tic mechanisms.