Researchers from the Thousand Brains Project have extended their theory on how mammals process information. The original theory proposed that individual brain columns are sensorimotor systems, learning structured models of objects through sensory input and movement integration. However, this new paper addresses previously unexplored long-range connections in the neocortex, including those involving the thalamus. These connections enable the conversion of egocentric to allocentric perspectives and facilitate the learning of compositional models. The authors argue that these connections form a heterarchy rather than a hierarchy, which has made their functions difficult to understand using existing theoretical models. --- Why it matters: This work matters because it provides a more comprehensive understanding of how the brain processes information, particularly in the context of long-range connections and hierarchical processing. This can have significant implications for AI researchers seeking to develop more efficient and effective neural networks. Source: https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.05888