Here's why:
* Cerebral Cortex: This is the outer layer of the brain responsible for higher-order functions like language, memory, reasoning, and problem-solving. Mammals, especially primates, have a significantly larger and more complex cerebral cortex compared to fish. This allows for greater cognitive abilities.
* Fish Brains: Fish brains are primarily focused on basic survival functions like sensing their environment, coordinating movement, and responding to immediate threats. Their cerebral cortex is much smaller and less developed than that of mammals.
While other brain structures like the cerebellum (coordination and balance) and hippocampus (memory) are also larger in mammals, the difference in size and complexity of the cerebral cortex is the most striking distinction between mammalian and fish brains.
