Cerebral cortex shi ne babban Layer na kwakwalwa a cikin kashin baya, wanda ke da alhakin mafi yawan ayyukan kwakwalwa kamar tunani, fahimta, da ƙwaƙwalwa. An kasu kashi biyu, hagu da dama, kowanne daga cikinsu an kara raba shi zuwa lobes hudu: gaban gaba, lobe na parietal, lobe na wucin gadi, da lobe na occipital. Kwakwalwar kwakwalwa tana shiga cikin sarrafa azanci, sarrafa motsi, harshe, tunani, da sani, a tsakanin sauran ayyuka.