The Exceptional Simple Lie Group E8 and the Human Neocortex

This paper explores an interdisciplinary framework linking the exceptional Lie group E8 with the architecture and dynamics of the human neocortex. We propose that the structural and algebraic richness of E8 may serve as a candidate symmetry model underlying aspects of cortical computation, connectivity, and information processing. Drawing from algebraic topology, theoretical neuroscience, and information theory, the study maps mathematical properties of E8 onto the functional topology of cortical manifolds and examines corresponding feedback loops through differential and geometric analogues. The work outlines a potential computational model constrained by E8 symmetry, evaluates neuroscientific validation pathways including imaging and timeseries data analysis, and considers applications to artificial intelligence. Philosophical implications are addressed, including discussions on symmetry, mathematical realism, epistemology, and the limits of reductionism. While acknowledging the speculative nature of the hypothesis, the paper aims to stimulate cross-disciplinary dialogue and outlines strategies for future empirical and computational exploration.