A Spectral–Geometric Perspective on Cortical Folding

This paper proposes that cortical folding shapes the spatial modes available to neural activity by changing the geometry, boundaries, and embedding of conserved cortical regions. It links cortical morphology to spectral and dynamical ideas, suggesting that geometry and connectivity jointly constrain how large-scale brain activity is organized and recruited during task performance. The work is framed as a conceptual and testable hypothesis rather than a finished quantitative model. It emphasizes that folding may alter the repertoire of possible neural states without creating new cortical territories. The manuscript is intended to motivate comparison across species, clinical conditions, and neural datasets on how geometry contributes to cortical function.