Its dominant feature, the cerebral cortex is a thick layer of neural tissue - nearly symmetrical with left and right hemispheres - that covers most of the brain. It is divided into the following four regions: the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes. Within each lobe are numerous cortical areas, each associated with particular functions such as movement, cognition or language, and our vision, hearing, smell, taste, and somatic senses.

Inside the brain, the limbic system controls our emotions and motivations. Below the cerebral cortex, the cerebellum relays information to the muscles to control movement, and the brain stem connects the brain to the spinal cord.