Final answer:
The cerebral cortex processes incoming action potentials from thermoreceptors in the skin. The thermoreceptors, specialized for hot and cold sensations, send signals through the thalamus to the cortex, where the brain interprets temperature and decides on a motor response.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cerebral cortex decodes incoming action potential from sensory pathways to differentiate between hot and cold through the process of thermoreception. Different types of thermoreceptors, such as Krause end bulbs for cold and Ruffini endings for warmth, detect temperature changes. These thermoreceptors initiate a graded potential that leads to an action potential if the stimulus is strong enough. The action potential travels through the axon to the synaptic end bulbs, releasing neurotransmitters across the synapse. This signal then travels through sensory pathways to the thalamus, acting as a relay, and eventually reaches the cerebral cortex where the conscious perception of temperature occurs. The brain integrates this sensory information with cognitive processes, emotional states, and memories. Finally, based on the interpreted sensations and integrated information, the brain sends commands down the spinal cord to initiate a motor response. This response could be to adjust the water temperature or to react in another way to the hot or cold stimulus.