In her ongoing column for Folha, a neuroscientist shares her enthusiasm for the Winter Olympics, which she enjoys watching, especially since it coincides with Brazil's Carnival season. She expresses a fondness for elite performances by athletes, admiring the dedication and training that allow humans to reach such extraordinary skill levels. This event serves as a personal escape from the celebratory chaos of Carnival as she engages with the cold weather in the United States.

The article moves into a discussion she has been having with her students surrounding the question of whether animals require a brain to move. This topic has sparked debates both inside and outside her classroom, where she highlights a popular notion that brains have evolved to enable complex movements. She mentions the work of neuroscientist Daniel Wolpert, who has provided thought-provoking insights on the subject, although she humorously criticizes him for harboring a 'mammalian chauvinism' in his views.

The neuroscientist's engagement with her students reflects a broader scientific inquiry into movement and cognition, bridging connections between athletic performance and neurological understanding. The Winter Olympics not only represents a global athletic event but also serves as a backdrop for her teaching, prompting discussions that challenge preconceptions about intelligence and movement across species, reinforcing her belief in the intricacies of brain function and its relation to physical expression.