Final answer:
Input from the olfactory tracts is interpreted in the primary olfactory cortex located in the inferior and medial areas of the temporal lobe, bypassing the thalamic relay.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cerebral cortex is responsible for processing sensory information, and in the case of the olfactory tracts, they project directly to the cerebral cortex.
Unlike other sensory pathways that require the thalamus as a relay station, olfactory signals bypass the thalamus and directly reach areas of the cerebral cortex, primarily targeting the primary olfactory cortex located in the inferior and medial areas of the temporal lobe.
Olfactory information also directly reaches the limbic system and hypothalamus, which are associated with long-term memory and emotional responses.