In addition, elephants have a total of 300 billion neurons.[1]Elephant brains are similar to humans' and many other mammals' in terms of general connectivity and functional areas, with several unique structural differences. The elephant cortex has as many neurons as a human brain,[2] suggesting convergent evolution.[3]
Elephants manifest a wide variety of behaviors, including those associated with grief, learning, mimicry, play, altruism, use of tools, compassion, cooperation,[4][5] self-awareness, memory, and communication.[6] Further, evidence suggests elephants may understand pointing: the ability to nonverbally communicate an object by extending a finger, or equivalent.[7] It is thought they are equal with cetaceans[8][9][10][11] and primates[9][12][13] in this regard.