In the human brain, what is the outer layer of gray matter covering the cerebrum called?

The cerebral cortex is the outer layer of gray matter covering the human cerebrum.

It contains billions of neuronal cell bodies, along with supporting glial cells, and is organized into folded ridges called gyri and grooves called sulci. Folding increases the amount of cortical tissue that can fit inside the skull. Beneath the cortex lies white matter, which contains many myelinated axons connecting cortical areas with one another and with deeper structures.

The cortex is divided into frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes, although functional boundaries do not always match visible lobe borders. Different regions contribute to movement, sensation, language, perception, memory, and complex thought.

The cerebral cortex is not the same as the entire brain or even the entire cerebrum. The cerebrum also includes subcortical structures, and the brain additionally contains structures such as the cerebellum and brainstem.