Function and evlution of the reptilian cerebral cortex

Among the extant vertebrates, nonavian reptiles are probably those that are most closely related to the first animals to evolve a clearly layered cerebral cortex. Thus, a good understanding of the structure and connections or reptilian cortex is critical to understanding cortical evolution. We review the cellular and functional architecture of reptilian brains and aim to identify knowledge gaps and promising avenues for research using novel techniques and diverse species. We argue that analyzing the simpler cortical circuits of reptiles is, besies being useful to understanding cortical evolution, of central importance to understanding cortical function in general