The pre-oral neuropils of the adult brain located above, around and partially below the esophagus, including the optic lobes. It excludes the gnathal ganglion. Developmentally, it comprises three fused neuromeres: protocerebrum, deutocerebrum, and tritocerebrum. [ http://flybrain.neurobio.arizona.edu/Flybrain/html/terms/terms.html ]