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Human beings can explore space, develop worldwide communications and invent an endless variety of machines and devices to make our lives better – but we don’t understand what goes on inside our own heads.

Last week, an array of scientists convened in Des Moines to work on that. They held a symposium that was part of “Decade of the Mind,” an ambitious program that seeks $4 billion in federal support for a variety of research over a 10-year span.

This being a business newspaper, the relevant question is: What would we get for our money?

Starting at the local level, note that Great Ape Trust of Iowa hosted the group. This isn’t the first time that the facility has brought attention to Greater Des Moines. We get just a handful of visitors, but they bring the kind of notice and respect that could pay off down the road.

The trust also hopes to get a slice of that $4 billion, but it would have to put in its request, along with lots of others. Iowa’s universities, colleges and large medical centers also might get money for research.

As for the bigger picture, “Decade of the Mind” proponents claim that focused research into the workings of the human brain could lead to “a more healthful and happy life due to concrete improvements in mind health and treatments of diseases that affect the mind.”

They say the U.S. Department of Transportation is interested in creating “intelligent” vehicles that would decrease traffic accidents, which would save huge amounts of money. They suggest that the research would lead to technology that can be spun off to benefit the private sector and, thus, the national economy.

A lot of this sounds like wishful thinking, but we do have countless examples of unexpected benefits from big-picture research, including those from the space program.

When you consider that the tiny fibers and globs of jelly in our heads can add numbers, recognize faces and recall the lyrics of hundreds of songs, anything is possible.