Primary Somatosensory Cortex
The Primary Somatosensory Cortex is a region of the brain located in the parietal lobe. It is responsible for processing sensory information from the body, such as touch, temperature, pain, and proprioception (the sense of body position). This area helps us perceive and interpret sensations, allowing us to respond appropriately to our environment.
This cortex is organized in a way that different body parts are represented in specific areas, a concept known as somatotopic organization. For example, sensations from the hands and face are processed in distinct regions, which helps the brain create a detailed map of the body's sensory inputs.