The brain cortex or cerebral cortex is the part of the brain which is responsible for higher thought and function. When people think of the brain, they usually visualize images they have seen of the cerebral cortex, since it is the largest part of the brain, and it is the area of the brain which differentiates humans from other animals. Although many animals have a brain cortex, it is most developed in humans, allowing a greater capacity for thought, reason, and other processes