The article by Dante R. Chialvo explores the complex dynamics of the brain, suggesting that its ability to produce a wide range of cortical configurations is rooted in universal mechanisms of emergent complexity. The brain, with its vast number of neurons and synapses, exhibits collective dynamics that resemble those studied in statistical physics. Chialvo argues that the brain is naturally poised near criticality, a state where the system can access a large repertoire of behaviors in a flexible manner. This perspective challenges traditional connectionist models and emphasizes the need to understand the brain as a collective process. Recent research has shown that spontaneous brain activity is not random but exhibits complex patterns, including scale-free dynamics and neuronal avalanches. These patterns suggest that the brain operates in a critical state, where small changes can lead to significant shifts in behavior. The article reviews key findings on emergent complex neural dynamics, including the spontaneous transitions observed in brain imaging studies and the self-organized criticality of neuronal avalanches. At both small and large scales, the brain's dynamics exhibit critical properties. Small-scale studies have identified neuronal avalanches with scale-free distributions, while large-scale analyses of resting-state fMRI data have revealed complex networks with scale-free characteristics. These findings support the hypothesis that the brain's resting state is a manifestation of criticality. Chialvo concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding the physical laws governing complex systems to advance neuroscience. He suggests that the brain's critical state is essential for navigating a complex, critical world, where learning and adaptation are crucial for survival. The article calls for further research to develop theories that can explain the underlying mechanisms of collective neural dynamics at both microscopic and macroscopic levels.The article by Dante R. Chialvo explores the complex dynamics of the brain, suggesting that its ability to produce a wide range of cortical configurations is rooted in universal mechanisms of emergent complexity. The brain, with its vast number of neurons and synapses, exhibits collective dynamics that resemble those studied in statistical physics. Chialvo argues that the brain is naturally poised near criticality, a state where the system can access a large repertoire of behaviors in a flexible manner. This perspective challenges traditional connectionist models and emphasizes the need to understand the brain as a collective process. Recent research has shown that spontaneous brain activity is not random but exhibits complex patterns, including scale-free dynamics and neuronal avalanches. These patterns suggest that the brain operates in a critical state, where small changes can lead to significant shifts in behavior. The article reviews key findings on emergent complex neural dynamics, including the spontaneous transitions observed in brain imaging studies and the self-organized criticality of neuronal avalanches. At both small and large scales, the brain's dynamics exhibit critical properties. Small-scale studies have identified neuronal avalanches with scale-free distributions, while large-scale analyses of resting-state fMRI data have revealed complex networks with scale-free characteristics. These findings support the hypothesis that the brain's resting state is a manifestation of criticality. Chialvo concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding the physical laws governing complex systems to advance neuroscience. He suggests that the brain's critical state is essential for navigating a complex, critical world, where learning and adaptation are crucial for survival. The article calls for further research to develop theories that can explain the underlying mechanisms of collective neural dynamics at both microscopic and macroscopic levels.