Final answer:
The somatosensory cortex in the parietal lobe processes touch, pain, and temperature sensations. Different regions of the cortex process sensations from different parts of the body based on their surface area and nerve density. The sensory signals travel from the spinal cord through the thalamus to the somatosensory cortex.
Step-by-step explanation:
The somatosensory cortex, located in the parietal lobe of the brain, is responsible for processing touch, pain, and temperature sensations. This area of the brain contains a somatosensory map, where different regions process sensations from different parts of the body. For example, the larger the surface area and the greater amount of nerves in a specific body part, the larger the area in the somatosensory cortex dedicated to processing sensations from that body part. The pathways carrying these sensory signals run from the spinal cord through the thalamus to the somatosensory cortex.
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