Abstract The cerebral cortex constitutes about 83% of total brain tissue. The cortex has two hemispheres (left and right) and both the hemispheres are connected via corpus callosum. Both the hemispheres have four lobes (frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital). The cerebral cortex constitutes the highest control areas for memory, attention, vision, language, motor control, and sensory perception. Microscopically, the cerebral cortex has six layers. The cerebral cortex plays an important role in consciousness. Anesthetic agents generate unconsciousness via breaking the communication of the posterior parietal area, posterior cingulate cortex, and precuneus.