Final answer:
The thalamus is the area of the brain excluding olfactory input that acts as a sensory relay station, directing signals to the cerebral cortex.
Step-by-step explanation:
The area of the brain that serves as the sensory relay station for all sensory input except for smell is the thalamus.
The thalamus functions as a critical hub in the brain, receiving sensory signals from various sources (except the olfactory system), and then routing them to corresponding areas of the cerebral cortex for further processing. The thalamus is essential for conscious perception of stimuli, with each sensory system having its trajectory through specific nuclei within the thalamus. It's integral to our ability to perceive and respond to the world around us, with the notable exception that the olfactory signals bypass the thalamus and project directly to areas like the limbic system and the cerebral cortex, which allows smell to elicit emotional responses distinct from other senses.