The forebrain (prosencephalon) is the most anterior and evolutionarily recent major brain division. It encompasses the neocortex and subcortical structures, and is responsible for the majority of higher cognitive functions.
Neocortex
The outer layered surface, organized into four primary lobes: Frontal Lobe, Parietal Lobe, Temporal Lobe, and Occipital Lobe. Handles thought, language, sensory perception, and voluntary motor output.
Subcortex
Structures beneath the cortex: Hippocampus, Amygdala, Basal Ganglia, Thalamus, Hypothalamus. These handle memory, emotion, reward, sensory relay, and homeostatic drives.