A region in the parietal lobe responsible for processing touch, proprioception, pain, and temperature. Organized somatotopically (body map), allowing precise localization of sensory input. ## Connected Regions - Primary Motor Cortex (M1) - [[Posterior Parietal Cortex]] - [[Prefrontal Cortex]] - [[Thalamus]] - [[Anterior Cingulate Cortex]] ## Functions - Receives and interprets tactile sensations (pressure, vibration, texture) - Processes proprioceptive feedback (body position and movement) - Integrates sensory data for coordinated motor responses - Collaborates with [[Posterior Parietal Cortex]] for spatial awareness and sensorimotor integration ## Subregions - **Primary Somatosensory Cortex (S1)**: immediate sensory input, located in postcentral gyrus - **Secondary Somatosensory Cortex (S2)**: complex sensory integration and bilateral input processing - **Somatosensory Association Areas**: interpret and contextualize touch sensations ## Clinical Notes - Lesions in S1: **loss of tactile sensation** and impaired proprioception - Damage to association areas: **tactile agnosia** (inability to identify objects by touch) - Overlap with pain-processing pathways (linked to [[Anterior Cingulate Cortex]])