The thalamus is a small, egg-shaped structure located deep within the brain. It acts as a relay station, processing and transmitting sensory information from the body to the appropriate areas of the cerebral cortex. This means that when you touch something hot or see a bright light, the thalamus helps send that information to the right part of your brain for interpretation. In addition to its role in sensory processing, the thalamus also plays a part in regulating sleep and alertness. It helps filter out unnecessary information, allowing us to focus on important stimuli while we are awake, and contributes to the transition between sleep and wakefulness.