The cerebral cortex is the outer layer of the brain, which for its color is also called the "gray matter" covering the brain (other areas of the brain are white). It is a sheet of neural tissue, responsible for higher brain functions, what we call "thinking", (actually "processing" is more precise) including memory, attention, perceptual awareness, thought, language, and consciousness.

The cerebral cortex is composed of "lobes" each has a defined, significant activity. The human cerebral cortex is 2–4 mm (0.08–0.16 inches) thick.

The Cerebral Cortex lobes are the Parietal Lobe (receiving and processing sensory information), Frontal Lobe (problem solving, and planning), Occipital Lobe (vision), and Temporal Lobe (memory, emotion, hearing, and language).