Final answer:
The rat's cortex is relatively smooth with very few folds, while the human neocortex has many folds, increasing the surface area and mental abilities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rat's cortex is different from a human in terms of surface area and folding. The neocortex, which plays an important role in complex brain functions, is relatively smooth in rats and has very few folds. On the other hand, in humans, the neocortex has many folds, increasing the surface area and allowing for greater mental abilities.