cerebral cortex

The cerebral cortex is the outermost layer of the brain, forming the grey matter that covers the cerebral hemispheres. It is about 2 to 4 mm thick and is intricately folded into gyri (ridges) and sulci (grooves). The cortex is essential for sensory perception, voluntary motor control, and higher cognitive functions such as decision-making, problem-solving, memory, language, and emotional processing. It is divided into different lobes—frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital, insular, and limbic—each responsible for specific functions like movement, sensory integration, visual and auditory processing, and emotional regulation. The cerebral cortex receives input from various brain structures and sends outputs to control behavior and bodily functions.