The thalamus relays somatosensory information to which cortical region?

• A. Primary Somatosensory Cortex
• B. Prefrontal Cortex
• C. Visual Cortex
• D. Motor Cortex

Answer: (A)

Somatosensory signals reach the cortex via the thalamus and are mapped in the primary somatosensory cortex, located in the postcentral gyrus. The key relay is the ventral posterior nucleus, with VPL carrying body information and VPM carrying facial information; these thalamic inputs project to S1 to form the sensory map of touch, proprioception, and temperature. This is where these sensations are consciously perceived and localized. Other cortical areas have different roles: the prefrontal cortex handles higher cognition, the visual cortex processes vision, and the motor cortex handles movement, receiving different thalamic inputs.