Special report: Can we copy the brain? - An engineer's guide to the brain

In the human brain, higher-level information processing occurs in the neocortex, neural tissue that forms the outer layer of the cerebral cortex. In its intricate folds, brain cells work together to interpret sensory information and to form thoughts and plans. The neocortex is divided into regions that take the lead on different types of processing. However, much of today's neuroscience research focuses on mapping the connectome: the neural connections between regions.